About OSGATA
The Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association is a not-for-profit agricultural organization made up of organic farmers, seed growers, seed businesses and supporters. OSGATA is committed to developing and protecting organic seed and it’s growers in order to ensure the organic community has access to excellent quality organic seed free of contaminants and adapted to the diverse needs of local organic agriculture. OSGATA is lead plaintiff in the landmark organic community lawsuit OSGATA et al. v. Monsanto which challenges the validity of Monsanto’s patents on genetically engineered (GE) seed and seeks Court protection for family farmers from allegations of patent infringement should Monsanto seed trespass and contaminate their crops.

Our Mission & Goals
The Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association (OSGATA) develops, protects and promotes the organic seed trade and its growers, and assures that the organic community has access to excellent quality organic seed, free of contaminants and adapted to the diverse needs of local organic agriculture.

OSGATA’s primary goal as an organization is to address seed issues of mutual concern on business and policy levels while collaboratively developing strategies for improving and protecting organic seed and the seed trade on a national scale.

Brief History of Organization
The Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association (OSGATA) was envisioned and established by the Organic Seed Alliance (OSA) in October 2007, with formal incorporation in January 2008, in order to fill the need for an organization positioned to protect, promote and develop the organic seed trade and its growers for the benefit of the organic community. From 2008-2010 OSGATA was primarily campaign driven−with a focus on responding to pertinent issues regarding the integrity of organic seed.

In January of 2011 the OSGATA membership voted to join a key legal action to support our mission to protect organic seed growers and the organic community. In March, OSGATA agreed to serve as the lead plaintiff in OSGATA et al. v. Monsanto. The Declaratory Judgement Act suit was filed in federal district court in Manhattan, NY, on March 29, 2011. After the filing of initial briefs, in July 2011, Monsanto filed a pre-trial motion to dismiss the lawsuit. An oral argument was heard on the motion to dismiss in January of 2012. Federal District Court Judge Naomi Buchwald dismissed the lawsuit in February 2012. On July 5, 2012 the plaintiff group filed a Appeal Brief with the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington, D.C.,  citing legal and factual errors and asking the appellate court to reverse the lower court’s decision. On September 12, 2012, two significant Amici Briefs were filed supporting the right of the farmers to their day in court.

In 2011-2012 OSGATA continued to strengthen its education and outreach efforts, while informing Congress, the media, and the courts on issues concerning seed. To this end, OSGATA has undertaken the researching and writing of the first comprehensive farmers’ and seed handlers’ manual outlining GMO Contamination Avoidance and Testing Protocols. Our goal is to empower the organic community and minimize the serious risk to organic seed integrity through this peer-reviewed compendium of best practices for avoidance and testing for crops currently under threat of contamination from genetically engineered (GE) seed.