Argentina has no plans to back down from growing genetically modified crops despite its row with US biotech giant Monsanto over royalty payments for patented soybeans, its agriculture secretary said on Friday.
Monsanto has filed patent infringement suits against importers of Argentina soy in Denmark and the Netherlands, arguing it has a right to charge a royalties fee on the cargo even though its Roundup Ready soy is not patented in Argentina. "Everyone is speculating in Argentina that I'm not going to release Monsanto (GMO) events any more," Miguel Campos said.
Campos was speaking after a meeting with EU Agriculture Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel, to explain Argentina's position and ask for EU support to press Monsanto to stop what he called the company's "abusive monopolistic practice".