Another Syngenta lawsuit was filed accusing Syngenta of failing to protect the best interests of farmers and those involved in the corn export industry across the country. American farmers lost millions of dollars after planting a genetically modified seed that Syngenta allegedly claimed was going to be quickly approved when in fact, it was not.

Overview of Syngenta Corn Approval Problems

Syngenta manufactured a corn seed called MIR162 or Viptera. Viptera contains a protein which protects crops from certain bugs known to attack corn. When approaching those involved in the corn export business, Viptera had not yet been approved by all countries involved in the U.S. corn market, primarily China.

Despite what was allegedly told to farmers, China failed to grant Viptera approval, and all of the MIR162 that had been grown was subsequently rejected. Many crops that were contaminated by the genetically modified corn were rejected as well, allegedly causing farmers to suffer huge financial losses.  According to the Syngenta corn lawsuit, “Exports of U.S. corn [were] down 85% in 2014 compared to 2013.”

The Syngenta lawsuit also states, “Despite knowing the rest of the world was not as eager as the United States to adopt bio-engineered food or feed, Syngenta began selling Viptera in the United States before other countries decided whether to approve it.” This suggests that Syngenta may have put their profit over the financial security of their customers and American farmers.

While China eventually granted Viptera approval, corn exports had already taken a substantial financial hit. According to the Syngenta lawsuit, “China has canceled or rejected orders for more than 131 million bushels of U.S. corn.”

Syngenta Lawsuit

Heritage Fox, the plaintiff of this Syngenta lawsuit, is a company in Iowa that is responsible for growing corn. According to the Syngenta lawsuit, “At no time did Plaintiff purchase either Viptera or Duracade [another genetically modified corn seed] corn seed or every knowingly grow Viptera or Duracade corn.”

Heritage Fox claims that their crop was ruined by cross-pollination and contamination from crops that contained Viptera corn. The Syngenta lawsuit further alleges that not only is it impossible to completely isolate one type of corn, such as MIR162, but that Syngenta was allegedly aware of this fact.

When rejecting Viptera corn, China also rejected anything with traces of the genetically modified corn seed: “If any Viptera was detected, China rejected the entire shipment because of its ‘zero-tolerance’ policy for unapproved imports,” according to the Syngenta lawsuit.

Corn growers such as Heritage Fox have allegedly suffered substantial financial damages because of Syngenta’s actions towards those involved in the corn industry. Even though they did not purchase any genetically modified seed from Syngenta, they were still seriously affected by Syngenta’s rush to profit from Syngenta corn seed, according to the GMO corn lawsuit.

This Syngenta lawsuit seeks to obtain compensation for all of the damages allegedly caused by Syngenta’s negligence. Other Syngenta lawsuits and Syngenta class action lawsuits have been filed as well.

This Syngenta Lawsuit is Heritage Fox, LTD. v. Syngenta Seeds Inc., Case No. 1:15-cv-02294, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, Western Division.