Battle Against Monsanto (MON) Sugar Beets Continues

The U.S. Agriculture Department's decision to partially deregulate and allow planting of "Roundup ready" genetically modified sugar beets has been challenged again by the Center for Food Safety. The nonprofit watchdog group claims the USDA's Feb. 4 final environmental assessment did not adequately address the hazards of planting the beets that Monsanto (NYSE:MON) genetically engineered to resist its herbicide Roundup.

The Center for Food Safety sued the USDA last year for issuing permits to plant the beets without proper environmental review.

U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White sided with the Center, finding that the USDA had violated the National Environmental Policy Act. Judge White ordered 256 acres of sugar beet stecklings removed from the ground.

That injunction was stayed by the 9th Circuit pending the USDA appeal.
The Center now claims that the USDA's Feb. 4 environmental assessment allows it to issue permits for spring planting in violation of NEPA.





Full Story