Argentine farmers say Monsanto soy contract breaks local law

Wed Apr 15, 2015 4:39pm EDT

Argentine farmers say Monsanto soy contract breaks local law

BUENOS AIRES, April 15 | By Maximilian Heath

(Reuters) - Argentine farm groups on Wednesday asked soy export companies to stop inspecting cargoes for bootlegged biotechnology at the behest of U.S. seed company Monsanto, the latest move in a long conflict between the country's farmers and Monsanto.

Growers in Argentina, the world's top exporter of soymeal livestock feed, have signed agreements with Monsanto Co. for inspections of soybean shipments to ensure the company receives royalties for beans grown with its Intacta technology.

Under the contracts, farmers must pay the royalties if they use saved seed from prior harvests of the genetically modified beans. Monsanto's Intacta soybeans have a gene that allows the soybean plant to protect itself against crop-devouring worms.

In their statement Wednesday, the farm groups said their crops should not be subject to inspection by anyone but the state.

"Monsanto is trying to control all soy production in Argentina by forcing the payment of royalties under a system that runs contrary to the Argentine legal system," said the statement by the country's top farm groups including the Argentine Rural Confederation (CRA) and Rural Society (SRA).

More:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/04/15/argentina-soybeans-monsanto-idUSL2N0XC2I720150415?rpc=401

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