Exploiting their patent on transgenic corn, soybean and cotton, Monsanto asserts an insidious control of those agricultural industries in the US, effectively squeezing out conventional farmers (those using non-transgenic seeds) and eliminating their capacity to viably participate and compete on the market.
Many farmers have decided to forego growing corn and soybeans due to the “inevitable contamination that will result”.
OSGATA et al v Monsanto deals with the latter group and represents 31 farms and farmers, 13 seed-selling businesses, and 31 agricultural organisations that represent more than 300,000 individuals and 4,500 farms or farmers. By detailing how many conventional farmers have given up trying to grow certain crops, OSGATA’s motion to appeal emphasises the monopolisation that has resulted from Monsanto’s aggressive pursuit of patent infringement cases. It is estimated that 88 percent of corn and 93 percent of soybeans are genetically modified, most of them by Monsanto.
View the original article here: Monsanto versus the people
