MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Argentine government favors farmers in dispute with Monsanto
Monsanto which wants exporters to check cargoes to make sure farmers had paid to produce its genetically modified soybeans. Argentina, the world's No. 3 soy exporter, said on Thursday the government must authorize any grain inspection, dealing a blow to Monsanto Co. which wants exporters to check cargoes to make sure farmers had paid to produce its genetically modified soybeans.
Monsanto responded in an email that it sought to comply with all laws, but noted that Argentine farmers had benefited substantially from its Intacta technology and called for “all producers to pay ... if they decide to use it.”
For a year, Monsanto has pressured shipping companies to notify it when crops grown with the technology are slated for export without documentation showing royalties had been paid. Intacta soybeans have a gene that protects plants against crop-devouring worms.
Argentina's agriculture ministry said in an official bulletin that any inspection needs its prior authorization. It did not mention the dispute between farmers and Monsanto.
Monsanto is pressing for royalties even for grains produced from second-generation seeds. Farmers argue that Argentine law does not require this and have urged the government to stop private companies from monitoring crops.
The Argentine Rural Society, or SRA, which represents medium- to large-scale producers, said on Thursday the inspections were unwarranted.
“These methods were not only not authorized, but furthermore, we saw them as an abuse of power for a company to be acting like the police,” SRA President Luis Etchevehere said.
Top Comments
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Read all commentsThieving rgs.
Apr 15th, 2016 - 09:58 am 0Just because you bought a copy of the book doesn't mean that author granted you the right to reprint it.
Left, right rgs are corrupt.
Monsanto will win in the end.
Apr 15th, 2016 - 12:01 pm 0I don't know why the various gov't around the world even bother.
No one ever put a gun to a farmer's head and said that he had to buy a seed license from a particular company, per a set of specific contractual terms.
Apr 15th, 2016 - 12:19 pm 0They buy the seed license because the genetics of the seed being offered are so infinitely more profitable than cheaper heirloom varieties.
Then as with all aspects of certain genetically corrupt cultures they decide that they don't want to abide by the terms of the contract that they affixed their signature to.
Rgs: Thieves as usual.
Bonds or seeds - contracts have to be enforced against the rg criminal.
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