Monsanto Sued by Canadian Organic Farmers

Kanina Holmes / Reuters 11jan02

WINNIPEG, Manitoba -- A group of Canadian organic farmers were cited as launching a lawsuit against biotech giants Monsanto Co. and Aventis SA Thursday, seeking compensation for damages caused by genetically modified canola they say is blowing into their fields.

Marc Loiselle, a board member of the Saskatchewan Organic Directorate (SOD), a group representing organic producers in the province, was quoted as saying, "Organic farmers in Saskatchewan have said that the time has come for this legal challenge, and we're here today to let the world know that.

We claim that the two companies, Monsanto and Aventis, are responsible for GE (genetically engineered) contamination on multiple grounds, and we're confident that this will be proven in the court of law."

The story notes there are about 1,000 organic growers in Saskatchewan, whose farms represent about 1 million acres (405,700 hectares). SOD alleges that genetically engineered crops threaten the environment and their industry. Arnold Taylor, an organic grower and president of SOD, was quoted as saying, "Any kind of science, whatever it is, if it's infringing on our rights, they don't have a right to do it."

The story notes that organizations that certify crops as organic have zero tolerance for genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the seed supply. They also prohibit organic farmers from applying most crop chemicals.

Instead, organic farmers rely on crop rotation, which includes the staggered planting of canola and wheat, to control weeds.

Today, about 60 percent of the canola grown in Saskatchewan is genetically modified to resist weeds.

Monsanto Canada spokeswoman Trish Jordan was quoted as saying, "To me it's just a matter of continuing to give farmers choice in terms of what they grow. And farmers make choices whether they grow organic or conventional or transgenic, and they make those choices based on what works for them on their farm."