Syngenta Lawsuit

Syngenta Seeds

Lawsuits have been filed in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Louisiana, and Alabama. The agricultural lawyers at Jinks Crow have now become involved in pursuing actions against Syngenta for their misrepresentations and the damage those misrepresentations have caused corn farmers nationwide. 

 

Our attorneys have the experience to pursue such matters and were involved in pursuing Bayer CropScience over GMO rice market losses that resulted in a $750 million settlement for farmers.

 

Jinks Crow is here to serve you and help in any way they can to get you the legal relief you deserve. Our attorneys will work with you to develop a plan and determine the best course of action for you and your case. Contact us today to schedule a free and confidential consultation. 

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Details of Syngenta Corn Settlement

The use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) as food and in food products is becoming more and more widespread. Recently several class-action lawsuits have been filed on behalf of corn farmers against Syngenta Corporation for Syngenta’s premature release of genetically engineered MIR 162 corn (“Agrisure Viptera”) seed into the US market before the seed received approval from China. China is a key export market for US-grown corn. The loss of this market is extremely detrimental to US corn exports and corn farmers.

 

These lawsuits are being filed against Syngenta for their blatant misrepresentations to US corn farmers. Syngenta promoted and marketed the MIR162 corn prior to approval from China. Syngenta made misleading statements relating to the MIR162 approval status in China and the impact the lack of approval would have on the market. Syngenta intentionally continued to suggest that China’s approval of the MIR162 was imminent even with the knowledge that China officials were not close to approving MIR162.

 

The closure of this export market to China will have a significant impact on the corn prices per bushel. In April, NGFA, a trade organization for grain elevators, reported that China had barred nearly 1.45 million tons of corn shipments since 2013, which resulted in about $427 million in lost sales. China is continuing to reject any corn exports containing the MIR 162.

 

Syngenta claims that the vast majority of corn produced in the US is used domestically thus making exports not as important. The USDA says that 20% of the corn produced in the US is exported. These conflicting accounts have led the corn farmers to believe that the misrepresentations made by Syngenta were willful and intentional.

 

The sale of the MIR 162 corn seed has not only impacted the corn farmers, but also those who use the corn to make their products such as corn syrup. Since China has now banned any exports containing the MIR162, these producers are also suffering.