One Small Step for a Farmer, One Giant Leap in the War between Organics and Monsanto

There has been a somewhat quiet war brewing between supporters of organic farming and their arch nemesis, Monsanto. And Monday marked a major victory for 'Team Organics.'

Yesterday a French court adjudged the U.S. agricultural giant, Monsanto, legally responsible for the poisoning of a farmer with one of its herbicides back in 2004. According to the judgment, issued in the southeastern city of Lyon, France, "Monsanto is responsible for Paul Francois's suffering after he inhaled the Lasso product ... and must entirely compensate him."

"This concerns farmers around the world," said the farmer's lawyer, Francois Lafforgue, and he is completely right considering how courts around the world will indeed look to this landmark case when making their judgments as well.

Grain farmer Paul Francois, 47, inhaled Lasso, a powerful weed killer, when he opened up a sprayer in 2004. Following that, he experienced nausea, dizziness, headaches, muscular aches, began stuttering and was unable to work for an entire year.

Adding to Monsanto's culpability was the fact that it failed to say what its product contained on the label or warn of the risks of inhalation or advise the user to wear a mask. Further, Lasso had already been banned in Canada, Britain and Belgium, but Monsanto was accused of keeping it on the French market until 2007.

According to Monsanto's lawyer, Jean-Philippe Delsart, there was no causal proof of poisoning because the farmer's symptoms didn't surface until months after the inhalation. Monsanto has not stated whether it would appeal the verdict.

Generations Futures, which lobbies against the massive use of pesticides, proudly hailed the ruling. Spokesman Francois Veillerette (yes that's THREE different Francois's if you're keeping count) said, "The recognition of Monsanto's responsibility in this matter is essential - plant care companies know that from now on they can no longer shirk their responsibilities."

I have to agree that showing symptoms 'months' after inhalation can be a farfetched causal link, but I do think that organics need some major help in a war against an agricultural giant that has a near endless supplies of funds to bully around any truly organic farmer standing in its way. 'Team Organics' is a major underdog here and not just so when it comes to money - but time also. Lasso, for example, was actually classified as dangerous in the 1980s and only recently in 2007 was it withdrawn. That's TWENTY years. In that passing time, who knows what other damage may have been wreaked.

Until next time, please do your best to eat healthy and please NEVER use a Raid can as a condiment or dressing.

Over and Out,

- Peter

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