The hundreds of Syngenta class action lawsuits have been consolidated in federal court. While Syngenta maintains their actions concerning their GMO corn were correct, thousands of individuals who are involved in the corn exports business have claimed that Syngenta acted in their own interest and led farmers to plant their new GMO corn before it had been approved by China, the largest importer of American corn.

Syngenta has claimed that their GMO corn, MIR162 (Viptera), was intended to be a successful crop. After all, many farmers use GMO, or genetically modified crops, without any trouble. MIR162 contained a trait that was supposed to fight certain corn pests, particularly worms. Viptera was approved in the United States in 2010 and was shortly added to the country’s corn seed supply.

China, however, had failed to grant Viptera approval when Syngenta began encouraging farmers to plant MIR162. As a result, China rejected all American corn exports that contained even a hint of Viptera. This caused thousands of U.S. farmers to lose a significant amount of money and subsequently to file hundreds of Syngenta class action lawsuits across the country.

Syngenta Denies Responsibility

Plaintiffs have alleged that Syngenta misled American farmers into believing that Viptera approval was imminent and that it would be safe to plant without a loss in profit. Syngenta feels otherwise.

“We [Syngenta] developed a superior product that helps farmers; we applied for and received government approvals from the U.S. and major export markets at the time; and we submitted an import application to the Chinese government that was timely, accurate, and complete,” said Syngenta’s head of corporate communications.

Syngenta’s opinion is that “the lawsuits are without merit” and that MIR162 was something that American farmers had a right to have access to.

Nonetheless, millions of dollars were reportedly lost due to the lack of China Viptera approval. Corn exports began to take a serious hit in 2013 when China rejected most American corn exports.

In December 2014, China finally granted Viptera approval, but it has been suggested that the resumption of trade is not sufficient to make up the loss and that the profit of corn exports has lessened overall.

Syngenta Class Action Lawsuits

Syngenta class action lawsuits have stated that Syngenta told farmers “they wouldn’t commercialize any new [GMO corn] trait unless and until all major export markets had approved it,” according to one plaintiffs’ attorney. The consolidation of Syngenta class action lawsuits will streamline the legal proceedings.

Syngenta has created a new GMO corn called Duracade which has been introduced into the market. This trait has not yet been approved by China. This has those involved in the corn market, especially those who were negatively affected by MIR162, very concerned.