Pullen Seeds and Soils v Monsanto
Monsanto Faces Unique Class-Action Lawsuit
Pullen Seeds and Soils of Sac City, Iowa, filed a federal class action lawsuit against Monsanto, accusing the ag-chem and seed giant of using illegal tactics to keep its dominant share of the glyphosate market.
Dr. Roger McEowen, an agricultural law professor with Iowa State University states "the plaintiffs in the case claim Monsanto used a variety of anti-competitive tactics in its bid to control the glyphosate market. One is acquiring seed companies that were developing modified seed technology, eliminating projects that could have led to the development of genetically modified seeds that could be used with non-glyphosate herbicide." He continued "then also entering into exclusive dealing licenses with seed companies and dealers that denied actual and potential competitors access to developmental marketing and distribution channels."
Monsanto has successfully turned away anti-trust accusations before, and no charges were leveled against the company after an anti-trust investigation by the Justice Department in 2003. But McEowen said this most recent case is different, because Pullen Seeds is accusing Monsanto of forcing seed dealers to distribute Monsanto's Roundup glyphosate brand as requirement for access to Monsanto seed technology.
