Monsanto Loses in Genetically Modified Alfalfa Ruling

UPDATE: A very polite Monsanto representative named Darren Wallis just called to let me know that our previous headline, "Monsanto Loses Genetically Modified Alfalfa Ruling" was incorrect because Monsanto was never a party in the lawsuit. The Center for Food Safety brought the case against the USDA for not performing the study necessary according to the National Environmental Policy Act before deregulating Roundup Ready alfalfa. I think it's still safe to say that Monsanto was a loser in the decision, although the company was technically not a loser in the case.

According to a press release: "Monsanto Company petitioned the court to become a party in the case to defend grower choice to use the technology. The company is reviewing its options, including the possibility of an appeal of the court’s decision."

A U.S. district judge in San Francisco has ordered that an injunction against planting herbicide-resistant alfalfa should stay in place.

More government studies on the crop's environmental effects are necessary, said Judge Charles Breyer.

Breyer had issued a preliminary injunction in March, faulting U.S. regulators for choosing to not prepare an environmental impact statement before deregulating alfalfa genetically engineered to resist the herbicide Roundup, a Monsanto product.

That marked the first time a federal court overturned USDA approval of a biotech seed and halted planting, according to The Center for Food Safety.

Alfalfa is mostly grown to feed livestock, and is one of the biggest crops in the United States.

Download monsanto_injunction.pdf

Court Keeps Ban on Monsanto's Modified Alfalfa [Reuters]