Syngenta Lawsuit

[Jim Meade / Iowa City]

A number of lawsuits have been filed alleging that Syngenta sold corn in the U.S. that was not approved by China, and thus harmed the U.S. corn price.

Here is an ICAL discussion: of one page followed by it's conclusion

https://www.calt.iastate.edu/article/pending-syngenta-lawsuits-raise-numerous-questions

"Conclusion

This litigation raises many important questions. For example, should a country such as China wield veto power over the products companies can sell in America? What role did China’s own economic interest play in its choice to reject American corn shipments?

Syngenta stated in a January court filing, “This litigation constitutes an unprecedented effort to hold a company liable for selling a U.S.-approved product in the U.S., simply because the product was not yet approved by a foreign country like China that can increase both their productivity and their profitability.”

It remains to be seen the chilling effect, if any, this litigation will have on the ability of U.S. companies to develop and market new technologies. We will keep you up to date on what is sure to be a very long process."

Have you participated in any of these lawsuits?  Who is in the right?

[sw363535]

Isn't this the ultimate example of third party control.....?

Is it not exactly like a consumer in LA dictating how the cow was raised before it became their hamburger?

This will be fun to watch ------- how the illogical unfolds.

But my name will not be anywhere close to this.  It is the bulldozer of socialism pushing the US over into the hole..... if it gets any time in court.  

But farmers may be greedy enough to throw themselves on the refuse pile and cheer as they get shoved over the cliff.

I'd sure like to here your thoughts on this, Jim.   And get some idea on how many have signed up to pay the price.....or "get the greedy capitalist corporation" payoff.  

Better odds than powerball???  probably not.

We we creep ever closer to government taking over the economy and personal property.

[Kay/NC]

Not being a crop producer, except for hay mostly consumed by the herds on the farms, I am not familiar with the conditions of saleablity of different crops.  Is there an expressed warranty with the seed sale, or is there some implied representation that a seed sold is fit for consumption to all comers? 

I think this may get to be a real, ongoing issue in the age of GMOs.  This time, it sounds like Sygenta may have jumped the gun, or buyers may have "assumed" that everyone would just love htis new variety.  As we all know, making assumptions can be a costly thing to do. 

[sw363535]

Kay,

All producers knew at the point of purchase that traits involved were approved in the US but not in all foreign countries.

It is common for farmers to put on the "dumb farmer" face and look innocent, but we have the information up front.

It is just an attempt to take advantage of the "deep pockets" trend in the court system.  Same greedy position that puts rioters in the streets.  Potential looting.

[Jim Meade / Iowa City]

I think there may be something to be said about farmers crying foul when they had the information available.  We had a prior example in StarLink.

Syngenta likely pushed the "oh, it will be OK idea"

faremers likely said "hell, they can't tell the difference, anyway"

seed dealers were quick to play on the greed on all sides.

Well, that is one perspective.  I don't know if it is accurate or not.  but I agree that farmers don't come out of this looking all that good when one digs in to it a bit.

[Red Steele]

Starlink corn was an incident where the dealers were told to go ahead and sell the corn, that approval was going to happen, and not to be concerned. Basically it ended up in a situation where the regulatory powers stepped in and got into a (expletive deleted) contest with Syngenta to show who was boss, and it was a costly incident. I was a Garst dealer at the time of Starlink, and thus I know of what I am talking about on that one.

I have not followed this latest lawsuit, and have not been a participant in any of the class actions so far, and doubt that I will. I can't see that it has a lot of merit...US farmers bought an approved product, grew it, and China said they didn't want it. Its time for the dog to wag the tail again in America rather than letting the tail wag the dog.

[Kay/NC]

How is the approval communicated at the time of purchase...is there a signed contract stating where the seed's product can be sold? That would seem to be a moving target, with apprivals added as they are granted.

[k-289]

It is interesting the meeting in our area sugested they suit was settled out of court with some ''major'' grain handling company's ? Imagin that ---

[Kay/NC]

It would appear then that there was significant proof that Sygenta salespeople represented that Chinese approval was a given, or some similar form of assurance was made, that those companies acted upon. Was this corn rejected at the elevators, or was its price that much lower than corn lacking the trait the Chinese onjected to at the time?

We are becoming more and more intertwined with the Chinese demand and its specifications. We grow pigs directly for them now.

[k-289]

I   sympathize with the folks at the bottom of the chain on doing business in that portion of the world - survival business instincts are slightly different --- B L I N K I N G can be costly ---