Agrisure Viptera was released and distributed for planting in 2009, with a second generation version known as Agrisure Duracade distributed this year. MIR162 is engineered to protect against insects such as the corn borer and corn rootworm. It was approved for production for U.S. markets, but regulators in China have not yet approved it. Chinese regulators continue to reject shipments that contain traces of Syngenta’s genetically altered varieties, Volnek Farms says in the Omaha complaint. Volnek cites a USDA report that estimated that 5 million tons of U.S. corn were sold to China in 2012-2013, and that “significant demand” and growth is expected in the Chinese market. But China “stopped importing U.S. corn when it detects traces of MIR162 in U.S. corn shipments” and has given no indication when or if approval will be given, Volnek says. While this specific variety of corn was planted on only about 3 percent of U.S. acres, there is no way of ensuring “that any shipments of U.S. corn will not be contaminated with trace amounts of MIR162,” according to the Omaha class action. According to the Iowa class action, the release of Syngenta’s GM seed led to an 85 percent drop in Chinese imports of U.S. corn. The National Grain and Feed Association estimates that Chinese rejection of U.S. corn has reduced corn prices by 11 cents per bushel, and it has asked Syngenta to stop selling the genetically modified corn varieties, according to the Iowa lawsuit. Syngenta’s website downplays the importance of selling to China. In its “Plant with Confidence” fact sheet on Agrisure Viptera, checked Monday, Syngenta assures farmers that “the vast majority of corn produced in the U.S. is used domestically,” and that in the past five years only 13 percent of U.S.-produced corn has been sold abroad, with China importing little more than 0.5 percent of it. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, however, on its website claims the United States exports 20 percent of its corn crop. The Iowa plaintiffs therefore accuse Syngenta of misrepresentation.
Posted on: Wed, 08 Oct 2014 20:40:18 +0000
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