Editing Monsanto (section)

==Government relations==

===United States===
Monsanto regularly [[Lobbying in the United States|lobbied]] the US government with<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120110044613/http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9RL51J81.htm Monsanto spent $2 million lobbying gov't in 3Q], [[Associated Press]] December 15, 2011, ©2012 BLOOMBERG L.P.</ref> expenses reaching $8.8 million in 2008<ref>[http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/clientsum.php?lname=Monsanto+Co&year=2008 Monsanto lobbying expenses], ''Open Secrets.''</ref>  and $6.3 million in 2011.<ref name="OpenSecrets">{{cite web|url=http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/clientsum.php?id=D000000211&year=2011 |title=Lobbying Spending Database – Monsanto Co, 2011 |publisher=OpenSecrets |date=September 17, 2012}}</ref> $2 million was spent on matters concerning "Foreign Agriculture Biotechnology Laws, Regulations, and Trade". Some US diplomats in Europe at other times worked directly for Monsanto.<ref name="07Paris4723" />

[[California]]'s 2012 [[Proposition 37#Proposition 37|Proposition 37]] would have mandated the [[GMO food labelling|disclosure]] of [[genetically modified crops]] used in the production of California food products. Monsanto spent $8.1 million opposing passage, making it the largest contributor against the initiative. The proposition was rejected by a 53.7% majority.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/nov/07/prop-37-californian-gm-labelling?INTCMP=SRCH|title=Prop 37: Californian voters reject GM food labelling|last=Vaughan|first=Adam|date=November 7, 2012|newspaper=The Guardian|location=London}}</ref> Labeling is not required in the US.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2012-05-02/california-heads-for-vote-on-modified-food-labeling|title=California Heads for Vote on Modified Food Labeling |magazine=Businessweek |date=May 2, 2012}}</ref><ref name="Huffington Post">{{cite news|last=Gillam|first=Carey |title=Prop 37: California GMO Fight Pits Big Food Against Activists| url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/17/prop-37-california_n_1791555.html|work=The Huffington Post|date=August 16, 2012}}</ref>

In 2009 [[Michael R. Taylor]], food safety expert and former Monsanto VP for [[Public Policy]],<ref name="Fda.gov">{{cite web|url=https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/2009/ucm170842.htm|title=Noted Food Safety Expert Michael R. Taylor Named Advisor to FDA Commissioner|publisher=Fda.gov |date=July 7, 2009 }}</ref><ref name="Sandra Hoffmann 2005">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Bguf6j-BOR0C|title=Toward Safer Food: Perspectives on Risk and Priority Setting|last1=Hoffmann|first1=Sandra|last2=Taylor|first2=Michael R.|date=September 30, 2010|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-136-52451-6}}</ref><ref name=WilsonCenterBio>{{cite web |url=http://www.wilsoncenter.org/sites/default/files/sept_20_bios.pdf |title=Woodrow Wilson Center bio |access-date=May 30, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190107023113/https://www.wilsoncenter.org/sites/default/files/sept_20_bios.pdf |archive-date=January 7, 2019  }}</ref> became a [[senior advisor]] to the FDA [[Commissioner#United States|Commissioner]].<ref name="fda">FDA News Release July 7, 2009 [https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/2009/ucm170842.htm Noted Food Safety Expert Michael R. Taylor Named Advisor to FDA Commissioner]</ref>

Monsanto is a member of the Washington D.C.–based [[Biotechnology Industry Organization]] (BIO), the world's largest biotechnology [[trade association]], which provides "advocacy, business development, and communications services."<ref>{{cite web | title = Modified crops increase herbicide use, WSU researcher says &#124; Local News &#124; The Seattle Times | work = The Seattle Times | url = http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2019418644_pesticides13m.html }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = About BIO &#124; BIO | url = http://www.bio.org/articles/about-bio | access-date = November 7, 2012 | archive-date = November 12, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121112012349/http://www.bio.org/articles/about-bio  }}</ref> Between 2010 and 2011 BIO spent a total of $16.43 million on lobbying.<ref>{{cite web | title = Lobbying Spending Database-Biotechnology Industry Organization, 2010 &#124; OpenSecrets | url = https://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/firmsum.php?id=D000024369&year=2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = Lobbying Spending Database-Biotechnology Industry Organization, 2011 &#124; OpenSecrets | url = https://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/firmsum.php?id=D000024369&year=2011 }}</ref>

The Monsanto Company Citizenship Fund aka Monsanto Citizenship Fund is a [[political action committee]] that donated over $10 million to various candidates from 2003 to 2013.<ref>[[OpenSecrets]]  [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/topcontributor.phtml?u=1758&y=0 Monsanto] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120225161526/http://www.followthemoney.org/database/topcontributor.phtml?u=1758&y=0 |date=February 25, 2012 }}</ref><ref>Staff, Monsanto. Retrieved July 22, 2013 [http://www.monsanto.com/whoweare/Pages/political-disclosures.aspx Monsanto's official "Political Disclosures" page] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130829054837/http://www.monsanto.com/whoweare/Pages/political-disclosures.aspx |date=August 29, 2013 }}</ref><ref>Federal Election Commission. [http://query.nictusa.com/pdf/287/13941177287/13941177287.pdf FEC Form 3x: Report of Receipts and Disbursements, Monsanto Company Citizenship Fund aka Monsanto Citizenship Fund, generated 7/8/2013] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150507203827/http://query.nictusa.com/pdf/287/13941177287/13941177287.pdf |date=May 7, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://images.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/fecimg/?C00042069 |title=COMMITTEE DETAILS FOR COMMITTEE ID C00042069 |access-date=June 15, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304000557/http://images.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/fecimg/?C00042069 |archive-date=March 4, 2016  }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.libertyff.com/committees.php?id=C00042069|title=LibertyFF report on the Monsanto Citizenship Fund PAC|access-date=July 22, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014091653/http://www.libertyff.com/committees.php?id=C00042069|archive-date=October 14, 2013}}</ref>

As of October 2013, Monsanto and [[DuPont Co.]] continued backing an anti-labeling campaign, spending roughly $18 million. The state of Washington, along with 26 other states, made proposals in November to require GMO labeling.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-10-25/monsanto-bets-5-million-in-fight-over-gene-altered-food.html | work=Bloomberg | title=Monsanto Bets $5 Million in Fight Over Gene-Altered Food}}</ref>

====Revolving door====
In the US regulatory environment, many individuals move back and forth between positions in the public and private sectors, including at Monsanto. Critics argued that the connections between the company and the government allowed Monsanto to obtain favorable regulations at the expense of consumer safety.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Revolving Doors: Monsanto and the Regulators |journal=The Ecologist |last=Ferrara |first=Jennifer |date=September–October 1998 |volume=28 |number=5 |pages=280–286 |url=http://exacteditions.theecologist.org/browsePages.do?issue=5361&size=3&pageLabel=280 |access-date=December 26, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131226013506/http://exacteditions.theecologist.org/browsePages.do?issue=5361&size=3&pageLabel=280 |archive-date=December 26, 2013  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://mises.org/daily/6580/ |title=Monsanto's Friends in High Places |work=Mises Daily |date=November 9, 2013 |last=Lewis |first=Hunter |author-link=Hunter Lewis |publisher=[[Ludwig von Mises Institute]] |access-date=December 25, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://thinkprogress.org/health/2013/04/10/1832621/monsanto-protection-act-power |title=The Real Monsanto Protection Act: How The GMO Giant Corrupts Regulators And Consolidates Its Power |last=Shen |first=Aviva |date=April 10, 2013 |work=ThinkProgress |access-date=December 25, 2013}}</ref> Supporters of the practice point to the benefits of competent and experienced individuals in both sectors and to the importance of appropriately managing potential [[conflicts of interest]].<ref>Stephanie Armour for Bloomberg News. February 29, 2012. [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-02-29/food-safety-official-s-ties-to-monsanto-spur-petition-for-ouster.html Food Safety Official's Past Work for Monsanto Spurs Petition for Ouster]</ref><ref>OECD August 23, 2010 [http://www.keepeek.com/Digital-Asset-Management/oecd/governance/post-public-employment/post-public-employment-practices-and-concerns_9789264056701-4-en#page4 Post-Public Employment: Good Practices for Preventing Conflict of Interest] {{ISBN|9789264056701}}</ref>{{rp|16–23}} The list of such people includes:

*[[Linda Fisher|Linda J. Fisher]]—EPA assistant administrator, then Monsanto VP from 1995 to 2000. then EPA deputy administrator.<ref name="url_monsantoharvest">{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2008/05/monsanto200805|title=Monsanto's Cruel, and Dangerous, Monopolization on American Farming|magazine=Vanity Fair|date=April 2, 2008}}</ref>
*Michael A. Friedman, MD—FDA deputy commissioner.<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Dr. Michael Friedman, After Serving at the NCI, FDA, and Pharmacia, Returns to Academia as CEO of City of Hope|journal=Oncology Times|volume=25|issue=12|pages=41–42|date=June 25, 2003|doi=10.1097/01.COT.0000289833.46951.54|last1=Laino|first1=Charlene|doi-access=free}}</ref>
*Earle H. Harbison Jr., Central Intelligence Agency Deputy Director, then President, Chief Operating Officer, and Director, from 1986 to 1993.<ref name="ForbesPlanet" />
*Robert Holifield—chief of staff of Senate Agriculture Committee, then partner in Lincoln Policy Group.<ref>[https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/16/monsanto-blanche-lincoln-_n_4110750.html "Monsanto Hires Former Sen. Blanche Lincoln As Lobbyist"], ''The Huffington Post''.</ref>
*[[Mickey Kantor]]—US [[Office of the United States Trade Representative|trade representative]], then Monsanto board member.<ref name="url_monsantoharvest" />
*[[Blanche Lincoln]]—US Senator and chair of [[US Senate Agriculture Committee|Agriculture Committee]], then founder of lobbying firm Lincoln Policy Group
*[[William D. Ruckelshaus]]—EPA Administrator, then acting Director of the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]], and then [[United States Deputy Attorney General|Deputy Attorney General of the United States]], then EPA administrator, then Monsanto Board member.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ruckelshauscenter.wsu.edu/advisory-board-members/william-d-ruckelshaus/|title=William D. Ruckelshaus|publisher=Ruckelshauscenter.wsu.edu}}</ref>
*[[Donald Rumsfeld]]—[[United States Secretary of Defense|Secretary of Defense]] and previous secretary of Searle, a Monsanto subsidiary, for eight years<ref name=":3">{{Cite book|jstor=j.ctt183p5cm|title=Making the World Safe for Capitalism: How Iraq Threatened the US Economic Empire and had to be Destroyed|last=Doran|first=Christopher|publisher=Pluto Press|year=2012|isbn=978-0-7453-3222-2|page=214|doi=10.2307/j.ctt183p5cm}}</ref>
*[[Michael R. Taylor]]—assistant to the FDA commissioner, then attorney for [[King & Spalding]],<ref>{{cite news |title=New FDA deputy to lead food-safety mandate |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/13/AR2010011304402.html |first=Lyndsey |last=Layton |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=January 14, 2010}}</ref><ref>Palast, Gregory (February 21, 1999) [https://www.theguardian.com/business/1999/feb/21/observerbusiness.theobserver8?INTCMP=SRCH Soured milk of Monsanto's 'kindness'], The Guardian</ref> then FDA deputy commissioner for policy on food safety between 1991 and 1994.<ref name="url_monsantoharvest"/> He was cleared of conflict of interest accusations. Then he became Monsanto's VP for Public Policy,<ref name="Fda.gov"/><ref name="Sandra Hoffmann 2005"/><ref name="WilsonCenterBio"/> becoming Senior Advisor to the FDA Commissioner for the Obama administration.<ref name="fda" />
* [[Clarence Thomas]]—[[Supreme Court Justice]] who worked as an attorney for Monsanto in the 1970s, then wrote the majority opinion in ''[[J. E. M. Ag Supply, Inc. v. Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.]]''<ref name="cornell1996">{{cite web |url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/99-1996.ZS.html |title=J. E. M. Ag Supply, Inc. V. Pioneer Hi-Bredinternational, Inc|publisher=Law.cornell.edu }}</ref> finding that "newly developed plant breeds are patentable under the general utility patent laws of the United States."<ref name="url_monsantoharvest"/><ref name=":3" /><ref name="cornell1996"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm/articles/harl/HarlMar02.htm |title=Key Supreme Court ruling on plant patents – McEowen, Harl March 2002 |publisher=Extension.iastate.edu |date=January 18, 2002 |access-date=May 19, 2008 |archive-date=December 2, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202000652/http://www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm/articles/harl/HarlMar02.htm  }}</ref>
*[[Ann Veneman]]—Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, and member of the board of directors of Calgene<ref name=":3" />

===United Kingdom===
During the late 1990s, Monsanto lobbied to raise permitted glyphosate levels in soybeans and was successful in convincing [[Codex Alimentarius]] and both the UK and US governments to lift levels 200 times to 20 milligrams per kilogram of soya.<ref name="captive">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TdYPAAAAQBAJ|title=Captive State: The Corporate Takeover of Britain|last=Monbiot|first=George|date=July 11, 2013|publisher=Pan Macmillan|isbn=978-1-4472-5247-4}}</ref>{{rp|265}} When asked how negotiations with Monsanto were conducted, [[Lord Donoughue]], then the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] Agriculture minister in the [[House of Lords]], stated that all information relating to the matter would be "kept secret".<ref name=captive />{{rp|265}} During the 24 months prior to the 1997 British election Monsanto representatives had 22 meetings at the departments of Agriculture and the Environment.<ref name=captive/>{{rp|266}} [[Stanley Greenberg]], an election advisor to [[Tony Blair]], later worked as a Monsanto consultant.<ref name=captive/>{{rp|266}} Former Labour spokesperson David Hill, became Monsanto's media adviser at the lobbying firm [[Bell Pottinger]].<ref name=captive/>{{rp|266}} The Labour government was challenged in Parliament about "trips, facilities, gifts and other offerings of financial value provided by Monsanto to civil servants", but only acknowledged that [[Department of Trade and Industry (United Kingdom)|Department of Trade and Industry]] had two working lunches with Monsanto.<ref name=captive/>{{rp|267}} [[Peter Luff]], then a [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|MP]] and Chairman of the Agriculture Select Committee, received up to £10,000 a year from Bell Pottinger on behalf of Monsanto.<ref name=captive/>{{rp|266}}<ref>{{cite news | title = Monsanto's lobby firm pays key MP | url = https://www.theguardian.com/politics/1999/jul/04/uk.politicalnews |date=July 4, 1999| first = Antony | last = Barnett | newspaper =The Guardian | location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title = Resign call over MP's link with GM food firm | url = https://www.theguardian.com/science/1999/jul/11/gm.food |date=July 11, 1999 | first = Antony | last = Barnett | newspaper =The Guardian | location=London}}</ref>

===European Union===
In January 2011, [[WikiLeaks]] documents suggested that US diplomats in Europe responded to a request for help from the Spanish government. One report stated, "In addition, the cables show US diplomats working directly for GM companies such as Monsanto. 'In response to recent urgent requests by [Spanish rural affairs ministry] state secretary Josep Puxeu and Monsanto, post requests renewed US government support of Spain's science-based agricultural biotechnology position through high-level US government intervention.'"<ref name="07Paris4723" /><ref name="cbc.ca">{{cite news |title=U.S. targeted EU on GM foods: WikiLeaks |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/u-s-targeted-eu-on-gm-foods-wikileaks-1.1010690 |date=March 9, 2011 |publisher=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]]}}</ref> The leaked documents showed that in 2009, when the Spanish government's policy approving [[MON810]] was under pressure from EU interests, Monsanto's Director for Biotechnology for Spain and Portugal requested that the US government support Spain on the matter.<ref name="07Paris4723">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/jan/03/wikileaks-us-eu-gm-crops |title=WikiLeaks: US targets EU over GM crops |work=[[The Guardian]] |author=Vidal, John |date=January 3, 2011 |location=London, UK}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |work=EUobserver |title=Spain a key ally of pro-GMO America, cables reveal |url=http://euobserver.com/news/31544 |date=December 20, 2010}}</ref> The leaks indicated that Spain and the US had worked closely together to "persuade the EU not to strengthen biotechnology laws".<ref name="07Paris4723" /><ref name="cbc.ca"/> Spain was viewed as a key GMO supporter and a leading indicator of support across the continent.<ref>{{cite web |title=U.S. Presses Europe to Worship Genetically Modified Foods |author=Estabrook, Barry |website=[[The Atlantic]] |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2011/01/us-presses-europe-to-worship-genetically-modified-foods/69633/|date=January 17, 2011}}</ref><ref name="El Pais">{{cite web |title=EE UU: "España nos pide que presionemos a Bruselas a favor de los transgénicos" |work=El Pais |url=http://www.microsofttranslator.com/bv.aspx?from=es&to=en&a=http://elpais.com/diario/2010/12/19/espana/1292713201_850215.html |date=December 19, 2010}}</ref> The leaks also revealed that in response to an attempt by France to ban MON810 in late 2007, then-US ambassador to France, [[Craig Roberts Stapleton]], asked Washington to "calibrate a targeted retaliation list that [would cause] some pain across the EU", targeting countries that did not support the use of GM crops.<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/jan/03/wikileaks-us-eu-gm-crops |title=WikiLeaks: US targets EU over GM crops |work=The Guardian |author=Vidal, John |date=January 3, 2011 |location=London, UK}}</ref> This activity transpired after the US, Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, India, Mexico and New Zealand had brought an action against Europe via the World Trade Organization with respect to the EU's banning of GMOs; in 2006, the [[WTO]] had ruled against the EU.<ref name="El Pais" /><ref>[http://www.euractiv.com/en/trade/eu-gmo-ban-illegal-wto-rules/article-155197 Euractive.com EU GMO ban was illegal, WTO rules] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080907170429/http://www.euractiv.com/en/trade/eu-gmo-ban-illegal-wto-rules/article-155197 |date=September 7, 2008 }}, euractiv.com (updated May 23, 2007)</ref><ref>[http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/cases_e/1pagesum_e/ds291sum_e.pdf EC – Approval and Marketing of Biotech Products (Disputes DS291, 292, 293)], World Trade Organisation.</ref>

Monsanto was a member of [[EuropaBio]], the leading biotechnology trade group in Europe. One of EuropaBio's initiatives is "Transforming Europe's position on GM food". It found "an urgent need to reshape the terms of the debate about GM in Europe".<ref name="guardian.co.uk">[https://www.theguardian.com/environment/interactive/2011/oct/20/transforming-europe-gm-food Transforming Europe's position on GM food – ambassadors programme executive summary] ''The Guardian'', October 20, 2011</ref> EuropaBio proposed the recruitment of high-profile "ambassadors" to lobby EU officials.<ref name="guardian.co.uk"/><ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2011/oct/20/europabio-gm-ambassadors-europe?intcmp=239 Biotech group bids to recruit high-profile GM 'ambassadors'] John Vidal and Hanna Gersmann, ''[[The Guardian]]'', October 20, 2011</ref><ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/environment/interactive/2011/oct/20/gm-food Draft letter from EuropaBio to potential GM ambassadors] (Draft letter from EuropaBio to potential GM ambassadors seeking their involvement in the outreach programme), ''The Guardian'', October 20, 2011</ref>

In September 2017 Monsanto lobbyists were banned from the European parliament after the Monsanto refused to attend a parliamentary hearing into allegations of regulatory interference.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/sep/28/monsanto-banned-from-european-parliament|title=Monsanto banned from European parliament|first=Arthur|last=Neslen|date=September 28, 2017|newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref>

=== Haiti ===
After the [[2010 Haiti earthquake]], Monsanto donated $255,000 for disaster relief<ref name=SeedDaily>[http://www.seeddaily.com/reports/Haitian_farmers_protest_Monsanto_seed_donations_999.html Haitian farmers protest Monsanto seed donations], Hinche, Haiti (AFP) June 4, 2010</ref> and 60,000 seed sacks (475 tons) of hybrid (non-GM) corn and vegetable seeds worth $4 million.<ref name=BusinessWeek>{{cite magazine|last=Katz |first=Jonathan M. |url=http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9FMUQN80.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100518201252/http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9FMUQN80.htm  |archive-date=May 18, 2010 |title=Monsanto gives Haiti $4 million in hybrid seeds |magazine=BusinessWeek |date=May 14, 2010}}</ref> However, a [[Catholic Relief Services]] (CRS) rapid assessment of seed supply and demand for the five most common food security crops found that the Haitians had enough seed and recommended that imported seeds be introduced only on a small scale.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120308151257/http://oneresponse.info/Disasters/Haiti/Agriculture/publicdocuments/CRS.%20Rapid%20Seed%20Assessment.%20Mars-10.pdf "A Rapid Seed Assessment in the Southern Department of Haiti."] Catholic Relief Services, March 2010</ref> Emmanuel Prophete, head of Haiti's Ministry of Agriculture's Service National Semencier (SNS), stated that SNS was not opposed to the hybrid maize seeds because they at least double yields. Louise Sperling, Principal Researcher at the [[International Center for Tropical Agriculture]] (CIAT) told HGW that she was not opposed to hybrids, but noted that most hybrids required extra water and better soils and that most of Haiti was not appropriate for hybrids.

Activists objected that some of the seeds were coated with the [[fungicide]]s Maxim or [[thiram]]. In the United States, [[pesticide]]s containing thiram are banned in home garden products because most home gardeners do not have adequate protection.<ref>[http://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPDF.cgi?Dockey=P1009J9G.PDF US EPA: Pesticides – RED Facts Thiram]. (PDF).</ref> Activists wrote that the coated seeds were handled in a dangerous manner by the recipients.<ref name=truth>{{cite web |url=http://www.truth-out.org/monsanto-haiti/1304605989 |title=Monsanto in Haiti |publisher=Truth-out.org |access-date=February 9, 2012 |archive-date=May 9, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110509194832/http://www.truth-out.org/monsanto-haiti/1304605989  }}</ref>

The donated seeds were sold at a reduced price in local markets.<ref name=BusinessWeek /> However, farmers feared that they were being given seeds that would "threaten local varieties".<ref name=SeedDaily />