Grain associations respond to Syngenta GMO corn lawsuit

The National Grain and Feed Association and North American Export Grain Association have issued a statement in response to the lawsuit against Bunge involving Syngenta’s biotechnology-enhanced corn, which has received regulatory approval or authorization in the U.S. and several foreign markets, but not in China.  
“The NGFA and NAEGA both strongly support agricultural biotechnology and other scientific and technological innovations that contribute to the production efficiency and availability of a safe, abundant and high-quality food and feed supply for U.S. and world consumers," said the statement. "Technology providers must provide for two critical elements: First maintaining access to key export markets like China, or for that matter any market like China that has a functional, predictable biotech-approval process in place; and second, proactive transparency to all stakeholders when there is a potential for restricted marketability of their products based upon approval status in major markets." 
According to the associations, the negative consequences of overly aggressive commercialization of biotech-enhanced events by technology providers are numerous, and include exposing exporting companies to financial losses because of cargo rejection, reducing access to some export markets and diminishing the reputation of the U.S. as a reliable, often-preferred supplier of grains, oilseeds and grain products. “Putting the Chinese and other markets at risk with such aggressive commercialization of biotech-enhanced events is not in the best interest of U.S. agriculture or the U.S. economy.”