| Record | OBS-0313 |
|---|---|
| Category | Government/Cover-ups |
| Status | PARTIALLY SUBSTANTIATED |
| Summary | Critics claim Monsanto aggressively sues farmers who inadvertently grow GMO seeds, driving them into bankruptcy. The company has filed 147 lawsuits since 1997, but only against farmers who knowingly saved patented seeds, not for accidental contamination. |
| Origin | The controversy emerged in the late 1990s and 2000s as Monsanto enforced its seed patents, leading to high-profile legal cases and public criticism. |
| Claimed |
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| Evidence / consensus | Monsanto has filed lawsuits against farmers for patent infringement, but there is no documented case of suing farmers for inadvertent contamination. The company has pledged to cover costs of accidental cross-pollination. The lawsuits target intentional seed saving, which is a legal violation. |
Sources are external and provided for verification. Listing does not imply the Observer endorses their claims.