Ag Groups' Brief on Supreme Court Case for Biotech Alfalfa

A coalition of agricultural organizations composed of the American Farm Bureau Federation, Biotechnology Industry Organization, American Seed Trade Association, American Soybean Association, National Alfalfa and Forage Alliance, National Association of Wheat Growers, National Cotton Council and National Potato Council filed a court brief to the Supreme Court to reverse the lower courts' injunction against the deregulation of biotech alfalfa.

In the brief, the coalition pointed out that the lower courts failed to consider  the benefits of agricultural biotechnology to the farmers, consumers, and the general public. Biotech corn, soybean, cotton, sugar beets, and papaya have been widely adopted in the United States and farmers who chose to grow these crops and producers and consumers who are benefiting from these crops should be heard and protected. The group again recommended that Roundup Ready^® alfalfa be deregulated and that farmers be allowed to grow it. The high court id expected to study the evidences and "weigh in" on the benefits and risks of GM crops. The oral argument is scheduled on April 27 and a decision is expected from the court by June 2010.

See the press release at http://www.bio.org/news/pressreleases/newsitem.asp?id=2010_0309_01