Tag Archives: Monsanto

Farmers cannot collect and plant second-generation seeds produced by patented genetically modified crops, regardless of how they obtained the original seeds, the Supreme Court ruled Monday. Indiana farmer Vernon Bowman thought he had found a work-around for agribusiness giant Monsanto’s famously strict control of their Roundup Ready soybean seeds, which are modified to resist herbicides. Normally, a farmer using the GMO product must by law buy a new batch of seeds from Monsanto every year in lieu of saving seeds …

Hidden within the appropriations bill passed by Congress last week to fund the federal government was an unnecessary rider that rolls back consumer rights and sharply restricts the ability to seek justice through the judicial system. Section 735 of the funding resolution, labeled the “Farmer Assurance Provision,” prevents federal courts from intervening in the harvest or sale of genetically modified crops, even if they are shown to cause health problems. Dubbed by critics as “The Monsanto Protection Act,” the rider …

The United States Supreme Court heard arguments today in a case that will determine if patents on genetically modified seeds also extend to the future generations of seeds that they produce. The justices appeared likely to affirm lower court findings that agriculture patents do protect multiple generations of GMO seeds, according to the Associated Press. The high court is hearing the appeal of Indiana farmer Vernon Bowman, who started buying GMO soy seeds from agriculture giant Monsanto in 1999. Monsanto’s …

A Supreme Court case over a lawsuit brought by agribusiness giant Monsanto against a farmer for the use of patented seeds could have deep intellectual property ramifications for the nation’s burgeoning biotechnology sector. At question is whether the patent Monsanto holds over their “Roundup Ready” soy seeds extends to the self-replicated progeny of those seeds. The high court will hear arguments in Bowman v. Monsanto sometime during the current term. Normally, purchasers of Monsanto’s famous soy seeds, which are genetically …

Farmers, seed distributors and food justice organizations filed an appeal after their lawsuit against agricultural giant Monsanto was dismissed. More than 80 plaintiffs, including the Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association, say Monsanto’s domination over genetically-modified organisms (GMO) threatens the world’s food supply. Because food companies aren’t required to label GMOs, you won’t know if the food you buy in a grocery store is genetically modified, or whether there are health consequences to eating it. Further, the wind can blow …