Trait Wars Continue

By Pam Smith
DTN Progressive Farmer Crops Technology Editor

DECATUR, Ill. (DTN) -- The grain trade is hot. Further fallout from the commercialization of genetically-engineered traits that don't have full import approvals came Friday as Cargill Inc. filed a lawsuit against Syngenta Seeds, Inc., in Louisiana state court.

The grain giant is seeking damages from Syngenta for commercializing its Agrisure Viptera (MIR 162) corn seed before the product obtained import approval from China. Cargill's grain export facilities in Reserve and Westwego, La., loaded the vessels that were destined for and rejected by China.

"Unlike other seed companies, Syngenta has not practiced responsible stewardship by broadly commercializing a new product before receiving approval from a key export market like China," said Mark Stonacek, president of Cargill Grain & Oilseed Supply Chain North America in a news release. "Syngenta also put the ability of U.S. agriculture to serve global markets at risk, costing both Cargill and the entire U.S. agricultural industry significant damages."

Syngenta returned the in a news release that stated: "Syngenta believes that the lawsuit is without merit and strongly upholds the right of growers to have access to approved new technologies that can increase both their productivity and their profitability." The Agrisure Viptera trait was approved for cultivation in the U.S. in 2010.

Syngenta said it commercialized the Viptera trait, which genetically controls a broad spectrum of lepidopteran pests, in full compliance with regulatory and legal requirements. Syngenta has also maintained it obtained import approval from major corn importing countries -- which at the time of commercialization did not include China.

Cargill stated that since mid-November 2013, China has rejected imports of U.S. corn due to the presence of Syngenta's MIR 162 trait because of its lack of approval for import, virtually halting U.S. corn trade with China. A study by the National Grain and Feed Association estimated that U.S. exporters and farmers lost up to $2.9 billion because of the uncertain trade environment. Earlier this year, NGFA and the North American Export Grain Association called upon Syngenta to halt the sales of corn containing Viptera and Duracade, a new genetically-engineered rootworm trait that also has not received Chinese import approvals.

Stonacek said seed companies, farmers, grain handlers, exporters and others have a shared responsibility to maintain and preserve market access when introducing new technology. "The risks -- as well as the rewards -- need to be shared across the marketplace by all of the stakeholders," Stonacek said. "Syngenta has not accepted its share of the risks associated with MIR 162."

Dave Baudler, president of Cargill AgHorizons U.S., said Cargill is an advocate for new technology, including new biotech seed products, noting that the innovations in seeds are tools that can allow U.S. agriculture to meet the growing demand for food, feed and fuel. AgHorizons U.S. is Cargill's network of grain storage and farm service centers and purchases corn from farmer customers.

"Responsible stewardship of agricultural innovation -- from creation through its development and marketing -- requires everyone's cooperation and allows everyone to benefit," Baudler said. "I want to be clear about this: Cargill is a supporter of innovation and the development of new GMO seed products. But we take exception to Syngenta's actions in launching the sale of new products like MIR 162 before obtaining import approval in key export markets for U.S. crops. Syngenta's actions are inconsistent with industry standards and the conduct of other biotechnology seed companies."

Stonacek said filing the lawsuit came only after talks with Syngenta proved unproductive. "This issue is important to U.S. agriculture," Stonacek said. "Marketing MIR 162 before receiving approval from China closed off that significant export market to U.S. farmers and exporters. Cargill believes that Syngenta continues to not accept its role in shared responsibility by moving ahead this year with the commercialization of Duracade, which also is not approved in China and other key export markets."

Cargill's communication lead Mark Klein told DTN in email correspondence that farmer customers are asked to give Cargill grain elevators advance notice in writing if they are delivering corn containing Viptera this fall. Domestic markets will be found for that corn. He also communicated that Cargill will not be accepting corn containing Duracade this fall.

A good place to monitor corn trait acceptance can be found at the National Corn Growers Know Before You Grow Website: http://www.ncga.com/….

Pamela Smith can be reached at Pamela.smith@dtn.com

(CC/CZ)

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