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Syngenta Viptera trial underway in Minneapolis

The latest trial pitting U.S. corn farmers against Swiss agribusiness giant Syngenta is underway in Minneapolis.

The test lawsuit alleges Syngenta damaged U.S. export business to China by releasing its Viptera corn trait without Chinese approval.

In June, Syngenta lost a $218 million dollar jury verdict involving Kansas farmers, but is appealing.

Syngenta won a third trial as an Ohio court dismissed a Viptera lawsuit filed on behalf of an Ohio ethanol plant.

Iowa State University ag law specialist Kristine Tidgren says the Minnesota case features a class-action suit of Minnesota farmers, as well as about 60,000 consolidated individual claims.