The number of Syngenta GMO corn lawsuits filed against the genetically modified corn manufacturer has continued to rise. Currently, over 360 Syngenta GMO corn lawsuits have been filed in over 20 U.S. states.

Syngenta created genetically modified corn seeds called Viptera or MIR162. MIR162 was created specifically with a protein that killed certain bugs that could potentially ruin corn crops (i.e. earworms and cutworms). Syngenta received approval of MIR162 in 2010. Planting began across the country the following year.

Syngenta then allegedly told hundreds of American farmers to plant a certain amount of Viptera corn seeds, even though it had failed to gain Viptera approval from China. China, being one of the largest importers of U.S. corn, refused Viptera corn exports and any corn export which contained signs of genetically modified corn. Even though China had failed to grant Viptera approval, Syngenta continued to encourage American farmers, purchasers, and others to grow, harvest, and sell MIR162.

According to Syngenta GMO corn  lawsuits, over 131 million bushels of corn exports have been rejected by China due to Viptera contamination. Billions of dollars have been lost due to Syngenta’s alleged actions.

Even if only a small percentage of the corn exports were MIR162 specifically, most of the crops were somehow contaminated by the presence of genetically modified corn. Farmers who did not plant Syngenta MIR162 still had their crops rejected as China later boycotted American corn exports all together.

Syngenta GMO Corn Lawsuits

One Syngenta GMO corn lawsuit said, “knowing that contamination of Viptera corn with the rest of the U.S. corn supply was inevitable, Syngenta nevertheless gambled U.S. farmers’ livelihood on approval of Viptera by the major corn-importing countries.”

States involved in Syngenta GMO corn lawsuits have so far included Kansas, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and several other states. Syngenta MIR162 class action lawsuits have also been filed against the company for misleading hundreds if not thousands of American farmers and causing severe financial harm to the livelihood of many.

A consolidated Syngenta GMO corn class action lawsuit is underway in Kansas City. Judge John Lungstrum has been assigned to all Syngenta corn lawsuits.

It has been suggested that Syngenta may be liable for millions of dollars in damages to hundreds of farmers across the country.

Syngenta, however, plans to file a motion for dismissal because, “plaintiffs do not and cannot point to any authority barring the introduction of a U.S.-approved product in the U.S. simply because the product was not yet approved for sale in a foreign country like China,” according to a court filing.

In December 2014, China finally approved Syngenta MIR162 corn. While approval may help with eventual recovery, Syngenta GMO corn lawsuit plaintiffs have still requested that Syngenta help repay their severe financial losses from the years prior to Viptera approval.