Arkansas farmers are participating in a Syngenta corn lawsuit, one of many filed nationwide that allege that Syngenta knew that their genetically modified (GMO) corn seed could contaminate and prevent U.S. corn shipments from being sold to export markets. An Arkansas GMO Corn Lawsuit Attorney can help farmers who suffered loss as a result of Syngenta’ GMO corn.
For more information, contact the Johnson Firm today. We offer free, no obligation consultations, and we can help you determine whether you have a claim. You can contact us by filling out the form on this page, calling us at 501-777-7777, or emailing us at [email protected].
What is GMO Corn?
GMO corn is a specific corn strain that has been genetically engineered to produce traits desirable to the agriculture industry, including resistance to pests and herbicides. Corn strains with these traits are now in use in multiple countries.
While GMO corn is believed to provide many benefits to farmers and consumers, it and other GMO agricultural products are heavily regulated in some markets. Accordingly, it is very important that growers have accurate information about what markets have approved various GMO products, including GMO corn.
Why is There a Syngenta Corn Lawsuit?
The ongoing Syngenta GMO corn lawsuit in Arkansas and other states originate from the discovery of unapproved GMO corn in international shipments sent to China. When China found a genetic trait in Viptera, also known as Viptera Agrisure or MIR 162, it refused to allow future shipments, and the following consequences are alleged to have followed:
- Oversupply or corn in the market
- Considerable market upheaval
- Sharp drop in in corn prices
Syngenta, the manufacturer of Viptera, had petitioned for approval of the trait in 2010 to the Chinese government. However, it had reportedly not received permission for distribution to and consumption in China at the time that the corn trait predicament was identified. Because the Chinese government holds a zero-tolerance policy concerning contaminated corn imports, shipments that tested positive for the trait were barred and turned back.
How an Arkansas GMO Corn Lawsuit Attorney Can Help
Syngenta is believed to have engineered Viptera as a corn trait to produce plants that are resistant to the cutworm and a variety of other pests. This type of genetically engineered corn seed, sold in 2011 to American commercial farmers, was planted in nearly 2.8 million acres of cornfields nationwide after it was approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Lawsuits claim that Syngenta has had a severe financial impact on the growers who purchased Viptera and also those who did not plant the GMO corn. Reports from the National Grain and Feed Association (NFGA) indicate that growers, exporters and distributors suffered $1.14 billion in damages as a result of GMO corn between the months of November and August of 2013 alone. NFGA estimates the 2014 season might show a loss of $3.4 billion.
A lawsuit filed by Syngenta GMO corn class action attorneys claims that Syngenta knew that Viptera was prohibited in China. Nevertheless, it continuously encouraged growers to plant its GMO corn understanding that it would be exported to China, America’s third largest export market.
Two principal issues covered in the class action lawsuits against Syngenta include:
- The dramatic drop in the price of corn. Because of the GMO corn that Syngenta sold, China refused every corn shipment in late 2013 and throughout 2014 from the U.S. The American corn industry reportedly suffered damages in the billions of dollars as a result. Due to the restriction of exports containing contaminated GMO crops without approval in other countries, particularly China, hundreds of thousands of growers across the nation were impacted financially.
- GMO corn contamination. Accidental cross-pollination from GMO plants with other types of corn in neighboring fields created a potential liability traced back to the growers. Even a small amount of the contaminated seed can be scattered throughout the complete corn chain, from barges to elevators to grain trains. Lawsuits allege that Syngenta encouraged side-by-side planting despite understanding the likely risks of contamination.
Arkansas farmers who have lost money as a result of Syngenta selling genetically engineered corn seed are joining forces to file Arkansas Syngenta GMO corn lawsuits. Whether or not a farmer used GMO corn seed, their harvest may have been contaminated, rejected or sold at a lower price as a result of Syngenta’s actions. Plaintiffs include exporters, corn farmers, brokers, grain silos, resellers and others involved in the corn chain of distribution.
The Time You Have to Pursue a Claim is Limited. Contact Us Today.
If you have questions about the Syngenta corn lawsuit, or if you want to speak with an Arkansas GMO corn lawsuit attorney, contact the Johnson firm today. You can contact us by filling out the form on this page, calling us at 501-777-7777, or emailing us at [email protected].
After you contact us, an attorney will follow up with you to get more information about your case. There is no cost or obligation to speak with us, and all of the information you provide is confidential.
Please note that the law limits the time you have to pursue a claim or file a lawsuit for an injury. If you think you have a case, you should not delay taking action.