Monsanto New Zealand

Monsanto, the world's largest and most controversial bio-tech (GE, GM, GMO) company trades under a different name in New Zealand: SEMINIS VEGETABLE SEEDS NEW ZEALAND LIMITED. Monsanto has been described by anti-GM groups as the "Darth Vader of biotechnology"



On March 23, 2005, Monsanto Company announced that it had completed its acquisition of Seminis, Inc. According to the press release announcing the deal, Monsanto paid $1.4 billion in cash and assumed debt, plus a performance-based payment of up to $125 million payable by 2007

The news of Monsanto’s agreement to purchase Seminis has received little attention from the media other than the financial pages and a few seed industry and anti-globalization web sites. But then again, why should it? How many consumers – of food or seed – have even heard of Seminis? And yet, as Seminis spinmeister Gary Koppenjan said, “If you've had a salad, you've had a Seminis product."

It is estimated that Seminis controls 40 percent of the U.S. vegetable seed market and 20 percent of the world market—supplying the genetics for 55 percent of the lettuce on U.S. supermarket shelves, 75 percent of the tomatoes, and 85 percent of the peppers

A landmark lawsuit filed on March 29 in US federal court seeks to invalidate Monsanto’s patents on genetically modified seeds and to prohibit the company from suing those whose crops become genetically contaminated. The Public Patent Foundation filed suit on behalf of 270,000 people from sixty organic and sustainable businesses and trade associations, including thousands of certified-organic farmers. In Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association, et al. v. Monsanto, et al. (U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, Case No. 11 CIV 2163), PUBPAT details the invalidity of any patent that poisons people and the environment, and that is not useful to society, two hallmarks of US patent law.  “As Justice Story wrote in 1817, to be patentable, an invention must not be ‘injurious to the well being, good policy, or sound morals of society,’” notes the complaint in its opening paragraphs, citing Lowell v. Lewis. The suit points to studies citing harm caused by Monsanto’s Roundup herbicide, including human placental damage, lymphoma, myeloma, animal miscarriages, and other impacts on human health. Plaintiffs condemn Monsanto for prohibiting independent research on its transgenic seeds and for its successful lobby efforts to ban GM food labeling. Many raise the specter of allergic reaction to GM foods, proof of which is hidden by lack of labeling.

MONSANTO NEW ZEALAND LIMITED amalgamated with SEMINIS VEGETABLE SEEDS NEW ZEALAND LIMITED to become SEMINIS VEGETABLE SEEDS NEW ZEALAND LIMITED

MONSANTO New Zealand Directors: 1. BUNN, Terence John: 11 Royal Cres, Armadale, Victoria, Australia 3143 2. LOOS, Jan Hermann Royce: 51 Cathies Lane, Wantirna South, Victoria 3152, Australia 3. TWINE, Paul Ross: 79 John Street, Williamstown 3016, Australia 4. WAH CHUNG, Wan: 151 Lorong Chuan, #06 - 08, Singapore

SEMINIS VEGETABLE SEEDS NEW ZEALAND LIMITED (Monsanto New Zealand) Registered office address: 68 Pook Road, Rd2, Pukekohe 2677, New Zealand Address for service: Level 12, 600 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Australia, New Zealand

SEMINIS VEGETABLE SEEDS NEW ZEALAND LIMITED (Monsanto New Zealand) Directors:

Full legal name: Christopher John Whitford BONE Residential Address: 23 Meadowland Drive, Howick, Auckland , Appointment Date: 30 Oct 2008

Full legal name: Daniel James KRUITHOFF Residential Address: 13 Lotus Drive, Botanic Ridge, Vic, 3977, Australia Appointment Date: 20 Dec 2010

Full legal name: Joanne Karen MESSING Residential Address: 3/111 Normanby Rd, Kew, Vic, 3101, Australia Appointment Date: 20 Dec 2010

Full legal name: Peter John O'KEEFFE Residential Address: 11 Sandy Place, Maribrynong, Vic, 3032, Australia Appointment Date: 20 Dec 2010

MONSANTO AUSTRALIA LIMITED ABN: 86 006 725 560 (Australian Public Company) (Registered 1987)

References & Citations: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seminis

Indian Government Files Biopiracy Lawsuit Against Monsanto

http://newfarm.rodaleinstitute.org/features/2005/0205/seminisbuy/index.shtml