Monsanto to appeal ruling on GM sugar beet

Monsanto have vowed to fight court rulings banning the planting of genetically modified Sugar beet in Oregon and Arizona. The court order concerns genetically engineered sugar beet, modified to be resistant to Monsanto’s Roundup herbicide.

Court ruling

In August Judge Jeffrey White ruled that genetically modified sugar beet could not be grown commercially, as the U.S. Department of Agriculture had not adequately considered their environmental impact before awarding permits for planting.  

The injunction against planting GM seeds in either state is the result of a lawsuit brought by five environmental groups, including the Center for Food Safety and Earthjustice, who voiced concerns that genetic traits from the GM beets could spread to similar crops through cross pollination.

Citing super weeds and risks of cross-pollination as reasons against growing the beet, Earthjustice have hailed Judge White’s decision as a significant victory; the Judge has ordered the destruction of a crop of sugar beets called stecklings, planted in September, which were to be used for producing seeds for the 2012 crop. However, Monsanto, developers of the Roundup Ready beets in question, have sworn to appeal the ruling.

Uncertainty in the field

The legal battle has left farmers facing an uncertain future; while not authorised in the EU, 95% of total sugar beet acreage in the United States is genetically modified. U.S. Department of Agriculture experts have predicted that sugar beet acreage could drop by 37 percent and total sugar production could fall by 1.6 million tons of refined sugar. They claim total domestic production could fall about 20 percent. Monsanto have said the decision will not affect either the 2010 or 2011 crop of modified sugar beets.

David Snively, general counsel for Monsanto stated “we believe the court’s action overlooked the factual evidence presented that no harm would be caused by these plantings, and is plainly inconsistent with the established law as recently announced by the U.S. Supreme Court”, he added “We intend to seek an immediate stay of this ruling and appeal to the Court of Appeals.”

The U.S.D.A. is considering granting partial approval, which would mean growing of genetically modified beets can continue, albeit with restrictions. Monsanto maintain that the planting has done no real harm to plaintiffs and that the permits issued by the US Department of Agriculture are in accordance with a 2010 Supreme Court ruling.

Tom Vislack, Agriculture Secretary, has criticised the ruling, saying “We need to figure out ways in which those who wish to do biotech and those who wish to do organic can live together in the same universe and be able to do what they think is best for their operation.”