Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association

The Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association(OSGATA) is a trade association based in Maine, United States which represents organic farmers, seed growers and seed suppliers.

It is known primarily for its March 2011 initiation of a lawsuit against Monsanto Corporation to stop it from suing farmers who have been "contaminated" by their genetically modified seeds.[1] In Jan. 2013, the US Federal Court of Appeals heard the oral arguments appealing the dismissal of the case.[2]

The case went all the way to the Supreme Court, which, in January 2014, upheld the lower courts' decisions to deny OSGATA's petition.[3]

OSGATA presents this case as protecting members against prosecution following "accidental contamination" with Monsanto patented crops, but Monsanto's chief counsel clarified that "Monsanto never has and has committed it never will sue if our patented seed or traits are found in a farmer's field as a result of inadvertent means." For example, in Monsanto Canada Inc v Schmeiser, an initial claim of accidental contamination is balanced against a finding of fact that 95%-98% of the crop was actually infringing.[4]

References

  1. ↑ Monsanto versus the people, Aljazeera. January 14, 2013.
  2. ↑ Organic Farmers Rally Against Seed Patents Newsplex.com, May 15, 2013
  3. ↑ Monsanto critics denied U.S. Supreme Court hearing on seed patents
  4. ↑ Canadian Federal Court decision, para 53
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