GMO Corn Leads to South Carolina Corn Farmers Lawsuit
A federal class action lawsuit against Syngenta GMO corn alleges that the manufacturer recklessly and negligently brought genetically modified corn seeds to the market, allowing the modified gene to spread to other corn suppliers and causing them to lose up to a billion dollars in revenue when major corn exporters like China rejected what the suppliers believed to be unmodified corn.
Recently, a Syngenta corn lawsuit was filed against Syngenta in South Carolina. The corn farmers lawsuit claims that Syngenta recklessly crippled the US corn market by introducing genetically modified seeds, especially Syngenta’s Agrisure Viptera and Duracade varieties, and then repeatedly lied to corn farmers in the US about China’s willingness to accept the corn, beginning in 2011.
Syngenta produced MIR162, the primary modified gene in the Viptera seeds, and introduced it to US farmers in 2009. A second generation was developed and sold this year as Duracade. The gene was developed to help protect the corn from insects and tolerate herbicides, as well as allow it to grow with less water. MIR162 was approved for use and consumption in the US and several other countries, but China has continually refused to approve the corn.
US corn farmers allege that the introduction of MIR162 and decreasing Chinese corn purchases are linked, resulting in the loss of billions of dollars in revenue.
“As a result of China’s prohibition on the importation of MIR 162 corn, even in trace, low-level amounts, and Syngenta’s decision to continue marketing MIR 162 to a small minority of U.S. corn farmers – the vast majority of U.S. corn has been effectively excluded from what was previously the third-largest export market for U.S. Corn, causing farmers within the State to suffer significant damages as corn prices have dropped from the loss of the Chinese market,” the Housers said in their class action suit.
“Syngenta’s decision to bring Viptera to the market crippled the 2013/14 corn export market to China and caused damage to plaintiffs and other Class members,” the Housers say. “Syngenta knew, or should have known, that releasing Viptera would lead to the contamination of U.S. corn shipments and prevent U.S. corn from being sold to export markets such as China, which had not granted regulatory approval of MIR 162.
Then, “[e]ven in the wake of significant harm,” they say. “Syngenta released its second generation MIR 162, Duracade, for 2014. This further exemplifies Syngenta’s reckless disregard and deliberate ignorance of the consequences its conduct on the corn market. Syngenta’s conduct caused Plaintiffs and the Class members to lose million of dollars in lost sales and income.”
A group of farmers has filed a similar class action complaint in Chicago, Illinois, which may be added to the class action in Charleston. “Syngenta believes that the lawsuits are without merit,” Paul Minehart, a company spokesman, said in an e-mailed statement. “Syngenta has been fully transparent in commercializing the trait over the last four years.”
The Strom Law Firm Is Investigating Farmers’ Claims Regarding Syngenta Corn
If you or someone you love grew, harvested, and sold non- MIR 162 corn on a commercial basis, or if you received revenue from non-MIR 162 corn under a crop-share arrangement from November 2013 to now, you may be eligible to participate in a class action seeking to recover compensation for lost profits. Syngenta Corn Lawsuit. The attorneys at the Strom Law Firm, LLC offer a free consultation and flexible appointment times. Do not wait until it’s too late. Contact us today. 803.252.4800
