U.S. agricultural processor Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) has become the latest in a line of processors to announce that it will not accept Syngenta’s genetically modified (GM) Agrisure Viptera variety of corn at its facilities. In an announcement made on Thursday (1st September), ADM said it would only accept corn varieties approved for use in the European Union. image expired

The herd of processors turning away from the corn, contamination from which in the processors’ machinery could jeopardise their opportunities to export other grains, started in August with Bunge, who refused to handle the new corn variety, citing it would risk losing its Chinese market if it did so. Syngenta responded by filing a lawsuit against Bunge on 24th August, claiming that Bunge’s refusal is illegal.

On Thursday, agribusiness giant Cargill also announced it would no longer handle the GM corn at its Wet Mills until the variety receives regulatory approval from the EU. Nicole Reichert, a spokesperson for Cargill commented, "Cargill strongly values its right to accept or restrict products of agricultural biotechnology, dependent on the approval status in export markets and needs of our customers."

Roman Blahoski, a spokesperson for ADM said of the latest restriction, "Our grain purchase contracts contain language explaining that we only accept grain approved for commercial use in the European Union. We have this language in our contracts because we sell corn products to customers in the E.U."