Melissa LaFreniere  |  May 21, 2015

Category: Consumer News

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GMO corn seedsFarmers throughout the United States who were affected by $1-$3 billion dollar China rejection of genetically modified corn may be able to join one of many Syngenta class action lawsuits.

Thousands of Syngenta lawsuits have already been filed in state and federal courts by plaintiffs who claim the company prematurely sold the GMO corn seed Viptera knowing there was a chance that China could reject the product. When the GMO corn was rejected by China, it resulted in devastating financial loss for U.S. corn farmers, corn exporters and corn brokers who are now seeking compensation from Syngenta.

Syngenta Corn

The genetically modified corn strain Viptera was engineered and marketed by Syngenta in 2010. The company sold the product to U.S. farmers with claims that Viptera was a better defense against common corn pests including earworms and black cutworms. Syngenta also began selling Viptera corn to Brazil and Argentina and issued a sample to China with hopes of getting sales approval. China regulators declined the product.

By 2013, China took an even tougher stance on genetically modified corn and the country decided to ban all U.S. corn imports with traces of Viptera. China typically imports 2.5 million tons of corn from the U.S. each year so rejection of the product caused farmers, corn brokers and corn exporters to lose billions of dollars. A loss that Syngenta lawsuits claim could have been avoided if the company didn’t mislead consumers with promises that China’s approval was impending.

Recent Syngenta Lawsuits

Nearly 1,400 Syngenta cases are in the process of being combined into one large multidistrict litigation in Kansas. The growing number of cases allege Syngenta prematurely sold the unapproved corn seeds to U.S. farmers knowing there was a high risk of financial loss should China decline the Viptera corn. GMO corn attorneys estimate farmers lost 20-30 cents per bushel and are seeking monetary compensation for their clients.

Before the ban of U.S. corn with traces of Viptera, China was the third largest importer of U.S. corn. In 2014, sales of U.S. corn was down 85 percent. Losing China as an corn exporter in turn lowered the demand of U.S. corn around the world, so even farmers who didn’t use the Viptera corn may also be able to join a class action lawsuit if they experienced financial loss last year. Plaintiffs in Syngenta lawsuits claim that had they known China might reject the product they would have never purchased the Viptera corn seeds.

Syngenta’s response to the growing number of lawsuits is that crop producers should take ownership for the financial risks involved. U.S. farmers disagree, stating that it was the fraudulent action of Syngenta that misled them to purchase their product and using Viperta was the direct cause of economic loss.

If you are a farmer, corn exporter or corn broker and experienced financial loss due to China’s GMO corn ban you may be able to join a class action lawsuit.

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If you, a family member, a partner, or an associate has been affected by Syngenta® GMO corn or declining corn prices, you may be eligible for compensation. Obtain a free and confidential review of your case by filling out the form below.

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