Archer-Daniels-Midland Co., the world’s largest corn
processor, has joined a fast-growing list of grain farmers and companies to sue
Syngenta AG after China rejected shipments of corn and products made from the
grain because of a genetic modification.
Cargill
has launched a similar lawsuit.
ADM is alleging that Basel, Switzerland-based Syngenta
sold corn seed with traits not approved in all major export markets and didn’t
take “reasonable stewardship practices” to stop the resulting crop from
commingling or tainting the rest of the U.S. corn supply, the Chicago-based
company said in a statement today.
“ADM believes Syngenta’s actions were irresponsible and is
seeking monetary damages,” Jackie Anderson, an ADM spokesman, said in the e-mailed
statement.
ADM is the latest U.S. grain handler to sue Syngenta due
to losses related to traits not approved by China. In September Cargill Inc.,
the grain exporter that’s the largest closely held company in the U.S., sued
Syngenta over claims it illegally marketed its Agrisure Viptera corn seed
before getting import approval from China.
“Syngenta believes that the lawsuit is without merit and
strongly upholds the right of growers to have access to approved new
technologies that can increase both their productivity and their profitability,”
Syngenta said.