Farmers Determined to Defend Right to Grow Food – File Appeal in OSGATA vs. Monsanto
The case, Organic Seed Growers & Trade Association, et al. v. Monsanto, was filed in federal district court in Manhatten on March 29, 2011, on behalf of 60 family farmers, seed businesses and organic agricultural organizations, challenging Monsanto’s patents on genetically modified seed. On June 1, 2011, we amplified our OSGATA v. Monsanto complaint by bringing on an additional 23 Plaintiffs to bring the total to 83. Our plaintiff group now represents over 300,000 members.
“Today is Independence Day for America. Today we are seeking protection from the Court and putting Monsanto on notice. Monsanto’s threats and abuse of family farmers stops here. Monsanto’s genetic contamination of organic seed and organic crops ends now. Americans have the right to choice in the marketplace – to decide what kind of food they will feed their families – and we are taking this action on their behalf to protect that right to choose. Organic farmers have the right to raise our organic crops for our families and our customers on our farms without the threat of invasion by Monsanto’s genetic contamination and without harassment by a reckless polluter. Beginning today, America asserts her right to justice and pure food.” Jim Gerritsen, President of OSGATA
- Read OSGATA’s Press Releases regarding the lawsuit
- Read the amici brief created by 12 organizations in support of the plaintiffs
Who are we?
As a diverse membership organization, OSGATA is uniquely positioned to address serious threats facing organic seed. We are working to protect, promote, and develop the organic seed trade and it’s growers and assure that the organic community has access to excellent quality organic seed, free of contaminants and adapted to the diverse needs of organic agriculture.
We envision a thriving organic seed industry with regionally-adapted, diverse organic seed that can support naturally integrated, local and organic farms. These seeds are robust, require low chemical inputs and are nutritionally superior. As the trade association representing the organic seed community, we have established that GMO contamination of organic seed constitutes irreparable harm to the organic seed industry and undermines the integrity of organic seed. Any detectable level is unacceptable.
