Syngenta just filed a complaint against Bunge North America for its refusal to accept corn with Syngenta’s Agrisure Viptera trait. The complaint was filed by Syngenta North America in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa.

Recently, Bunge and Consolidated Grain and Barge (CGB) announced that they would not accept corn with the Agrisure Viptera trait because it was not approved for export to China.

Chuck Lee, Syngenta head of corn in North America, told Farm Industry News that the trait has full feed and food approvals in the U.S. and for major corn importing countries, as agreed to by the seed trait industry and grower associations. China was not part of this list, however, because it imported such a small amount. Now China has increased its imports.

Lee said Syngenta expects to receive the China approval for the Agrisure Viptera trait in March 2012.

“We believe growers have the right to plant Agrisure Viptera,” Lee stated. “The injunction will provide immediate action so a grower can go ahead and deliver corn.” He said the action by Bunge is unreasonable and unfair to growers as well as being illegal.

Syngenta did not pursue action against CGB, Lee said, because the company has been willing to look at options regarding the grain. Bunge has been inflexible, he added.

Syngenta Seeds President David Morgan added, “When a product has been legally approved, growers should be able to use that technology without subsequently being subjected to arbitrary actions.

“Our first priority is growers,” Morgan continued. “Growers inherently face a myriad of risks and Bunge’s decision to change grain specifications when farmers had already planted their corn is unacceptable.”

Farmers affected by the Bunge decision can call a toll-free Syngenta phone number (800/319-1360) for delivery options, or send inquiries to [email protected].