News
Supreme Court reverses biotech alfalfa ruling
In a 7 to 1 ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court today reversed a federal appeals court ruling that lifts the injunction on Monsanto’s RoundUp Ready alfalfa.
Mark McCaslin, President of Forage Genetics International, says the high court ruling is a victory especially because it reinforces the role of USDA’s Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) as the scientific authority. “It reinforces the role of APHIS and – secondly, particularly in this case, it gives APHIS a little more latitude between now and when the EIS is completed in terms of what farmer may or may not be able to do,” says McCaslin.
APHIS issued its final draft Environmental Impact Assessment (EIS) at the end of last year that biotech alfalfa is safe.
Forage Genetics partnered with Monsanto to develop the seed which a federal appeals court judge blocked in 2007, rejecting USDA’s proposal of a limited injunction that would have permitted some planting of biotech alfalfa. McCaslin says this is clearly a victory for farmers, “We get a clear message from our grower members that this is about having access to traits, make them more competitive in a global agricultural market,” says McCaslin.
Forage Genetics is a wholly owned subsidiary of Land O’ Lakes.
I wonder who voted not to agree with the other 7! Could it be the most recent appointee to the Supreme Court?