For the past 13 years, Monsanto has sued about 11 farmers per year for patent infringement of their genetically modified corn and soybean seeds. Many of these farmers have had to pay a settlement to the corporation even when their fields were accidentally contaminated with GM seeds from a neighboring farm. Monsanto simply outspends the defendants, dedicating $10 million a year and 75 staffers for the sole purpose of investigating and prosecuting farmers. Farmers who have sued Monsanto back have been soundly defeated. Monsanto's power extends beyond the USDA. The Department of Justice dropped their antitrust investigation into Monsanto's near monopoly on the nation's seeds. The stalled Farm Bill in Congress also contains a so-called "Monsanto rider" that would entirely deregulate GM crops and allow Monsanto to basically approve its own product. |
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At thinkprogress.org
Sheila Samples is an Oklahoma writer and a former civilian US Army Public Information Officer. She is a Managing Editor for OpEd News, and a regular contributor for a variety of Internet sites.