Organic farmers sue Monsanto over GM seed

In a bit of a turnabout, organic farmers are suing Monsanto over genetically modified crops. From Mass High Tech:

Organic farmers have been angered by the use of genetically modified seed because it competes with their organic seed when it spreads. According to the statement, organic canola seed has become virtually extinct since Monsanto introduced genetically modified canola seed, and “organic corn, soybeans, cotton, sugar beets and alfalfa now face the same fate.”


See the complaint filed in SD NY

Paragraph 106 of the complaint notes:

Monsanto   zealously   enforces   its   transgenic   seed   patents.     Published   reports   and  
Monsanto’s   own   statements   suggest   that   roughly   500   farmers   are   investigated   for   patent  
infringement   each   year.     Between   1997   and   April   2010,   Monsanto   filed   144   lawsuits   against  
farmers in at least 27 different states for alleged infringement of its transgenic seed patents and/or  
breach of its license to those patents.