Monsanto, Others Named in Biotech Suit

Six farmers opposed to genetically engineered crops filed a suit alleging that Monsanto Co. and other firms conspired to take over the seed trade and pushed biotech crops to market without adequate environmental and health testing. The class-action suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Washington, opens a new front in efforts to curb the use of biotechnology in agriculture. Genetic engineering involves splicing a single gene from one organism to another. The suit alleges that Monsanto, using its biotechnology patents, coordinated with other biotech companies such as DuPont to fix prices and force farmers into using genetically engineered seed. The lawsuit also alleges there is “substantial uncertainty” as to whether the crops are safe. Five farmers in Indiana and Iowa and one in France are listed as plaintiffs, but the lawsuit was filed on behalf of all farmers who have bought biotech seed. The National Farm Coalition, a left-leaning group opposed to biotechnology, helped develop the suit. Monsanto officials denounced the lawsuit as a political stunt and predicted it would be thrown out of court.