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Federal Judge Rules Government Failed to Consider Environmental Impacts of Genetically Engineered Crop

Case Updates:

September 28, 2009

Sierra Club and its allies achieved a major win for sustainable agriculture and the environment when, on September 21, 2009, a federal judge ruled that the U.S. Department of Agriculture failed to adequately assess the environmental impacts of genetically engineered sugar beets before approving the crop for cultivation. Genetically engineered crops can contaminate nearby organic and non-genetically engineered crops, displace smaller-scale family farms, and harm surrounding biodiversity. Also, Monsanto’s genetically engineered sugar beets are impervious to the biotech giant’s toxic herbicide, Roundup, and the government failed to consider the cumulative environmental harm that would result from unregulated use of Roundup on “Roundup Ready” sugar beets.

The federal judge has not yet decided on a remedy for this case and a meeting to begin that phase is scheduled for October 30. Sierra Club, the Center for Food Safety, the Organic Seed Alliance and High Mowing Organic Seeds are involved in the sugar beet lawsuit and will continue to work diligently to ensure that the genetically engineered crop does not harm farmers or the environment.

Details and Documents:

Judge Rejects Approval of Biotech Sugar Beets
September 22, 2009 by Andrew Pollack, The New York Times