Syngenta Corn Case Settled for $1.51B

A $1.51 billion settlement has been reached in the nationwide class action lawsuit filed in Kansas federal court over Syngenta’s genetically modified corn seed.

It is believed to be the largest agricultural litigation settlement in U.S. history, and at least a dozen Arkansas farmers had joined the lawsuit. 

The suit alleged that Syngenta caused losses of between $1 billion and $2.9 billion to U.S. corn farmers after it sold genetically modified or bioengineered corn seed that had not been approved for use by China. China began refusing shipments of American corn in November 2013, and the price of corn and corn byproducts dropped.

The settlement covers all U.S. corn producers — farmers and crop share landlords — as well as grain handling facilities and ethanol plants in the U.S. that sold corn priced after Sept. 15, 2013.

A motion for preliminary approval has been filed. The settlement must be approved by U.S. District of Kansas Judge John Lungstrum.

If approved, the settlement terms and claims process information will be mailed to class members and published in various media outlets, as well as on a settlement website. 

All class members must submit a claim form to receive settlement funds, and there will be a deadline to do that, opt out or object to terms of the agreement.  

The funds could be distributed in the first half of 2019.