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Abinanti, a Democrat whose district includes Greenburgh and Mount Pleasant, drafted legislation to help farmers defend themselves against unfair lawsuits by GMO seed manufacturers.
“It’s unconscionable that companies like Monsanto can win lawsuits for alleged violations of their seed patents against small farmers because GMO crops are found on the farmer’s property when the farmers didn’t plant the seed,” Abinanti said in a press release.
"It’s common sense that giant corporate seed manufacturers should not be able to intimidate farmers because the wind or rain carried GMO seeds from a faraway farm and actually contaminated the farmer’s otherwise organic crops."
Abinanti said that farmers – just like consumers – should have the choice to not use GMO products. Abinanti is also sponsoring and co-sponsoring other pieces of legislation that would require labeling of some GMO products and banning of others.
Abinanti’s bill, A.298, is now S.3085 in the state Senate.
Republican Sen. Catharine Young of Olean is sponsoring the legislation at that level.
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