Since 1901, Monsanto has created some of the world’s most dangerous and controversial chemical products, including DDT, PCBs, Agent Orange, and genetically engineered (GE) bovine growth hormone, known as rbGH or rbST.

In 1976, Monsanto launched its glyphosate-based weedkiller Roundup, which quickly became the world’s most popular herbicide. In 1996, Monsanto engineered plants with glyphosate-resistant genes, allowing farmers to spray Roundup onto their fields during the growing season without harming the "Roundup Ready" crop.

Unlike traditional crop breeding which selects for desirable traits within a species, genetic engineering refers to a set of technologies used to change the genetic makeup of cells and move genes across species boundaries to produce novel organisms. Through genetic engineering, organisms are given new combinations of genes—and therefore new combinations of traits—that do not occur in nature.

Promised higher yields, labor savings, and lower weed pressure, GE seeds have been widely adopted by U.S. farmers. (To read OEFFA's factsheet about the dangers of GE foods, click here. For a print-friendly version, click here.)

Today, Monsanto is the world's largest seed company. Over 80 percent of the soybeans, corn, cotton, sugar beets, and canola grown in the U.S. contain Monsanto's patented genes.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) approved of a wave of GE crops, rocking the farm world, including GE alfalfa, sugar beets, and corn designed for biofuel production.

In January, the USDA announced that it would fully deregulate Monsanto's controversial GE alfalfa. Alfalfa is the nation's fourth largest crop, planted on over 21 million acres of land. Alfalfa is used in many organic farmers' crop rotations, but is also used for alfalfa sprouts and other consumer products. Most importantly, alfalfa is the key feedstock on organic dairy farms.

In February, the USDA authorized spring 2011 planting of GE sugar beets, despite having not completed a required Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). GE sugar beets are engineered to be resistant to glyphosate, the active ingredient in Monsanto's Roundup weedkiller.

That same month, Monsanto and the USDA won reversal of a judge's order to destroy GE sugar beet seedlings planted in 2010 in violation of federal law. The initial court ruling had found that past incidents of contamination were too numerous and current containment efforts were insufficient to allow the crop to remain in the ground. Sugar beets, grown on 1.3 million acres in 10 states, provide half the nation's sugar supply.

This year the USDA also approved the use of GE corn modified for ethanol production. Known as Event 3272, the corn is designed to contain high levels of a heat-resistant and acid-tolerant enzyme, which breaks down starches into sugars, the first step in conversion of corn to ethanol.

Then the situation went from bad to worse when the USDA announced a program this spring which would let Monsanto and others in the industry conduct their own environmental impact studies.

So, what does this mean for organic farmers and consumers who don't want to eat GE foods?

One of the biggest problems GE crops present is the contamination of non-GE crops. GE sugar beet opponents have argued that wind-blown pollen from GE crops will contaminate non-GE sugar beets and other closely related plants, such as swiss chard. Corn is a particularly "promiscuous" pollinator, meaning GE ethanol corn could cross-pollinate or become mixed with corn for food uses. GE alfalfa cross-fertilization would be especially disastrous for organic farmers. If organic fields are contaminated, the crops cannot be sold as organic, since the use of GE crops is prohibited under the organic label. Organic livestock farmers are also at risk if their cattle consume contaminated alfalfa. Despite such concerns, the USDA approved the planting of GE alfalfa for a perennial crop this spring without a plan for preventing costly contamination.

What's more, once a crop is fully deregulated, the USDA conducts no monitoring to see if a GE crop has harmed the environment. Releasing GE crops without a full understanding of their impacts and without a plan to prevent contamination is gambling with our health, our environment, and livelihoods of family farmers.

Non-GE seeds and crops are vulnerable to contamination at almost every step of the production process: from seed drift or cross-pollination, by coming into contact with contaminated harvest and post-harvest equipment, or during processing, transportation, or storage. The fact that Monsanto’s patented genes are nearly ubiquitous, and the USDA has deregulated their use, compounds the problem.

Despite this, Monsanto zealously enforces its seed patents. Monsanto's own statements suggest that they investigate approximately 500 farmers each year for patent infringement. Between 1997 and 2010, Monsanto filed 144 lawsuits against farmers in 27 states for alleged patent infringement. And, Monsanto has an annual budget of $10 million and a staff of 75 devoted to investigating and prosecuting farmers for "seed piracy."

In 2011, on behalf of 83 family farmers, seed businesses, and organic agricultural organizations, including OEFFA, the Public Patent Foundation (PUBPAT) filed suit against Monsanto in federal court. The case, Organic Seed Growers & Trade Association, et al. v. Monsanto, was filed in federal district court in Manhattan and assigned to Judge Naomi Buchwald.

The plaintiffs, representing more than 270,000 members, are preemptively asking the court for protection from being accused of patent infringement should they ever become contaminated by Monsanto's GE seed. The suit also argues the invalidity of Monsanto's Roundup Ready patents under both statute and case law precedent requiring patented products to demonstrate clear social utility and not be dangerous to health.

"Consumers indicate, overwhelmingly that they prefer foods made without genetically modified organisms," said Dr. Carol Goland, OEFFA's Executive Director. "Organic farms, by regulation, may not use GE seed, while other farmers forego using them for other reasons. Yet the truth is that we are rapidly approaching the tipping point when we will be unable to avoid genetically engineered foods in our fields and on our plates. That is the inevitable consequence of releasing genetically engineered materials into the environment. To add injury to injury, Monsanto has a history of suing farmers whose fields have been contaminated by Monsanto's seeds. On behalf of farmers who must live under this cloud of uncertainty and risk, we are compelled to ask the Court to put an end to this unconscionable business practice."

Donate — Make a donation now to help OEFFA stand up against GE food, protect farmers from Monsanto’s practice of intimidation, and reclaim our food sovereignty.

Write a Letter to the Editor — Educate your neighbors and tell decision-makers that you want consumer choice preserved, GE foods labeled, and organic farmers protected from contamination and lawsuits.

Support Your Local Organic Farm — Because GE products are not required to be labeled, the best way to avoid GE food is to buy organic, since organic farmers are prohibited from using GE seed or livestock feed. Support farmers who are growing food organically and preserving heirloom seed varieties.

Arm Yourself with Information— To read OEFFA’s factsheets on the Monsanto lawsuit and the dangers of GE foods, click here. To find out more about GE food and what you can do, go to Millions Against Monsanto or GM Watch.

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