By Farms.com Editors
Cargill has launched a legal battle with Syngenta over losses sustained through Chinese rejections of US corn shipments.
Cargill accused Syngenta of causing "significant damages" to the US agriculture industry by launching a genetically modified corn seed without the approval of Chinese authorities.
The move led to a series of rejections, from late 2013, by Chinese customs officials of cargos of US corn containing MIR 162 – a genetically modified trait cleared by Washington but not by Beijing.
"Unlike other seed companies, Syngenta has not practiced responsible stewardship by broadly commercialising a new product before receiving approval from a key export market like China," said Mark Stonacek, the president of Cargill's North American grain and oilseed supply operations.
Cargill, estimates more than $90m its own losses from the Chinese cargo rejections, said it had filed for damages from Syngenta after talks "proved unproductive".
However, Syngenta dismissed the lawsuit as "without merit", adding that it had, after gaining US approval for MIR 162 in 2010, "commercialized the trait in full compliance with regulatory and legal requirements".
From the Syngenta Website:
Syngenta response to Cargill lawsuit
09.12.14
WASHINGTON, D.C., USA – Syngenta today responded to the lawsuit filed against Syngenta Seeds, Inc in Louisiana state court by Cargill.
Syngenta believes that the lawsuit is without merit and strongly upholds the right of growers to have access to approved new technologies that can increase both their productivity and their profitability.
The Agrisure Viptera® trait (MIR162) was approved for cultivation in the U.S. in 2010. Syngenta commercialized the trait in full compliance with regulatory and legal requirements. Syngenta also obtained import approval from major corn importing countries. Syngenta has been fully transparent in commercializing the trait over the last four years. During this time Agrisure Viptera has demonstrated major benefits for growers, preventing significant yield and grain quality losses resulting from damage by a broad spectrum of lepidopteran pests.
About SyngentaSyngenta is one of the world's leading companies with more than 28,000 employees in over 90 countries dedicated to our purpose: Bringing plant potential to life. Through world-class science, global reach and commitment to our customers we help to increase crop productivity, protect the environment and improve health and quality of life. For more information about us please go to
www.syngenta.com.