Kentucky plaintiff Richard G. is suing Syngenta Corporation for allegedly selling unapproved Viptera or MIR162 corn seed, which negatively affected his crop supply and yearly income.

Like many organic corn farmers involved in this litigation over Syngenta’s Viptera corn, Richard did not directly use Viptera MIR162 corn seed, as he prefers to not use genetically modified (GM) products. However, he is still facing the economic brunt of the disaster Syngenta allegedly brought upon the American corn market.

Despite trying to remain organic, Richard is still being snubbed by China and other major corn importers due to the fear of their corn seed possibly being contaminated by Viptera corn. According to the Viptera lawsuit, Syngenta allegedly released the MIR162 corn before China and other major American corn buyers had approved it, leading to massive rejection of US corn by Chinese importers.

Legal experts state that the widespread contamination of Syngenta MIR162 corn seed will continue to negatively impact the U.S. corn export market, especially to China, for years to come. It will also continue to lower corn prices per bushel in the American market.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, China had purchased an estimated amount of 5,000,000 tons of corn from the United States in 2012-2013; this was an increase from 47,000 tons in 2008.

Previously, China was the third largest export market of corn from the United States and was predicted to make even bigger purchases between 2013-2014. Instead, Chinese corn imports from the United States were reportedly down 85 percent in 2014, only buying 375,000 tons.

Syngenta Corn Allegations

The issue over Viptera corn started in 2009, when Syngenta had released the genetically modified corn seed with the MIR162 strain, which was meant to make corn seed less vulnerable to corn pests like borers and rootworms.

While the Viptera corn was approved to sell in the United States, Brazil, and Argentina, Syngenta had to apply for export approval from the Chinese government in March 2010. China Viptera approval was turned down, but this information came too late for American corn farmers, as they started releasing, selling, and distributing the Viptera corn seed for planting in 2011.

This proved to be a fatal error for Syngenta, as China had ultimately denied the Viptera corn in November 2013. In discovering that Viptera corn seed may have infiltrated the majority of the American corn market, China stopped importing corn from the United States altogether after its officials discovered MIR162 traces in their corn shipments.

Legal experts claim that Syngenta’s move to introduce Viptera corn to the American market may cripple the American agricultural economy. Additionally, Syngenta allegedly sold Viptera corn to farmers under the false impression that it was approved by China.

Ultimately, the reduction of corn exports has caused $1-$3 billion in losses so far and has affected corn farmers in America, regardless if they used Syngenta corn or not.

Richard is one of these farmers, and is suing Syngenta for false advertising, concealing information, and for negligently putting his income and other farmers’ livelihood at risk.

This Syngenta Corn Lawsuit is Case No. 5:15-cv-115-TBR, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky.