A South Dakota corn farmer has filed a lawsuit alleging Syngenta’s release of Viptera corn destroyed the market for U.S. corn exports to China and other countries, causing significant financial damage to the plaintiff and to others involved in the corn industry.
The Syngenta corn farmer lawsuit alleges that Plaintiff Wayne B. suffered financial damages when the market price of corn dropped due to Syngenta’s release of Viptera corn into the U.S. supply, coupled with the company’s misleading statements regarding China’s approval of the genetically modified (GMO) strain of corn and corn seed.
The Syngenta lawsuit further alleges that farmers and corn industry stakeholders will continue to be negatively impacted by Syngenta’s widespread contamination of the U.S. corn and corn seed supply.
Syngenta Corn Controversy
Syngenta, a Swiss-based agribusiness, has been accused of attempting to commercialize a GMO corn seed product before China approved the strain for sale in that country.
Syngenta engineered a corn trait known as MIR162, which makes plants resistant to such corn pests as corn borers, black cutworm and corn rootworm. Syngenta spent five to seven years and $200 million developing the trait, according to court documents.
The company began selling it commercially to U.S. growers in 2011 as Viptera, after receiving approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2010. Viptera has been planted in about 2.8 million acres of corn fields across the United States.
China’s government began rejecting U.S. corn shipments in November 2013, after its tests found that some shipments contained Viptera. While Syngenta says it sought approval of the GMO seed from Beijing in 2010, the product had not yet been cleared for sale in China.
According to a report published by The Wall Street Journal in September 2014, China’s government rejected more than 1 million metric tons of corn exports.
U.S. corn shipments in the first seven months of 2014 were down 85 percent from the same period in 2013. Corn industry prices have plunged nearly 60 percent from their 2012 peak, a result of record corn farming production coupled with the lack of export demand.
Syngenta corn farmer lawsuits allege that Syngenta misinformed the entire corn farming industry including farmers, elevators, and exporters that China Viptera approval was imminent and posed no problem for the U.S. corn market.
Syngenta Corn Lawsuits
Syngenta claims that it’s release of Viptera did not harm the corn farming industry, but the growing number of Syngenta corn farmer lawsuits suggests otherwise.
In these lawsuits, farmers and other corn industry parties allege similar financial problems that came about because Syngenta decided to market its MIR162 corn to American farmers without disclosing the fact that China had not approved the MIR162 trait.
The Syngenta Corn Farmer Lawsuit, seeking to recover both compensatory and punitive damages, is Case No. 1:16-cv-01002-CBK in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota, Northern Division.
Join a Free Syngenta GMO Corn Class Action Lawsuit Investigation
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.
ATTORNEY ADVERTISING
Top Class Actions is a Proud Member of the American Bar Association
LEGAL INFORMATION IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE
Top Class Actions Legal Statement
©2008 – 2026 Top Class Actions® LLC
Various Trademarks held by their respective owners
This website is not intended for viewing or usage by European Union citizens.
One thought on Syngenta Lawsuit: GMO Corn Caused Significant Financial Damage to Farmers