Last year, the US Department of Agriculture issued a regulatory clearance for Monsanto's genetically engineered herbicide-resistant alfalfa. Now, the USDA is facing the heat as a coalition of farmers, consumers and environmental activists filed a lawsuit, claiming that the USDA did not do a fulll environmental review prior to its approval of the Roundup®-ready alfalfa.

Their complaints are based on two major issues:

• that the genetically modified alfalfa will probably contaminate conventionally grown alfalfa at a fast pace, ultimately forcing farmers to pay for Monsanto's patented gene technology whether they want the technology or not, and
• biotech alfalfa would also hurt production of organic dairy and beef products because alfalfa is a key cattle feed

Representatives from Monsanto, Animal/Plant Health, and EPA would issue no comments. Read the full story from LA Times.

(Photo: AgBios Database)