Monsanto vows to fight GM sugar beet ban

Monsanto has vowed to appeal against an order by a US judge to uproot 104ha of its GM sugar beet crop.

US District Judge Jeffrey White said the seedlings, planted in Oregon and Arizona in September, posed a significant environmental risk.

Despite efforts to prevent contamination or cross-pollination of crops, there was no guarantee that the GM crops would not affect other plants, he added.

The injunction, granted after a request from a group of environmental lawyers, bans the continued growing of GM sugar beet in either US state.

The plants were to be used to produce genetically-altered seeds for the US sugar beet crop in 2012.

Paul Achitoff, the lawyer for complainants Earthjustice, said the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) had “allowed the crop to be grown without environmental review”.

“Herbicide-resistant crops just like this have been shown to result in more toxic chemicals in our soil and water,” Mr Achitoff added.

“USDA has shown no regard for the environmental laws, and we’re pleased that Judge White ordered the appropriate response.”

But Monsanto said it would appeal the ruling, believed to be the first case in which a judge has ordered the destruction of GM plantings.

“We believe the court’s action overlooked the factual evidence presented that no harm would be caused by these plantings, and is plainly inconsistent with the established law as recently announced by the US Supreme Court,” said David Snively, general counsel for Monsanto. “We intend to seek an immediate stay of this ruling and appeal to the Court of Appeals.”

Round-Up Ready sugar beet has been planted on nearly 405,000ha across ten US states and two Canadian provinces, accounting for 95% of the 2010 crop, Monsanto said.

Commercial planting of GM sugar beets in the EU is currently not authorised.