Bayer CropScience Settles Biotech Rice Litigation
Category: BioValleyResearch Triangle Park, N.C. - Bayer CropScience has reached settlement agreements with attorneys representing U.S. long-grain rice growers in the biotech rice litigation.
As agreed to in the settlements, Bayer CropScience will pay up to $750 million to resolve claims submitted by growers. The settlement program will be open to all U.S. farmers who had been growing long-grain rice during the period of 2006 through 2010.
Settlement agreements have been reached with two groups of lawyers. One agreement involves those cases that are a part of the federal multi-district litigation; the other involves those cases in state courts. BrownGreer PLC will administer the settlement processes for both agreements. Rice growers have a 90-day period in which to submit their claims.
Although Bayer CropScience believes it acted responsibly in the handling of its biotech rice, the company considers it important to resolve the litigation so that it can move forward focused on its fundamental mission of providing innovative solutions to modern agriculture.
Bayer CropScience recommends all rice growers interested in participating in the settlement program consult a lawyer in regard to their claim submissions. The settlements are contingent on the participation of a sufficient number of growers to represent at least 85 percent of U.S. long-grain rice acreage.
Bayer CropScience regards the inclusion of all long-grain rice growers in the settlement program, whether they have filed a lawsuit or not, to be crucial to demonstrating the company’s long-term commitment to rice, which remains an important crop for Bayer CropScience throughout the world.
Bayer has already established appropriate provisions for the settlement program. BrownGreer PLC can be contacted at 866-673-5705 for information on submitting claims.
About Bayer CropScience
Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the fields of health care, nutrition and high-tech materials. Bayer CropScience, a subgroup of Bayer AG with annual sales of EUR 6.830 billion (2010), is one of the world’s leading innovative crop science companies in the areas of crop protection, non-agricultural pest control, seeds and traits. The company offers an outstanding range of products and extensive service backup for modern, sustainable agriculture and for non-agricultural applications. Bayer CropScience has a global workforce of 20,700 and is represented in more than 120 countries.
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