State Attorney Generals Press Aventis on Behalf of Farmers

Press Release From The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy
November 15, 2000 For Immediate Release
Contact: Ben Lilliston, Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy
612-870-3416

IATP Applauds Attorneys General Letter To Aventis
StarLink Liability Concerns Remain Unresolved

Minneapolis - The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP)
applauded the actions of State Attorneys' General from 16 states which
wrote the manufacturer of the genetically engineered StarLink corn calling
for a number of assurances regarding financial compensation for farmers and
grain elevators.

The Attorneys General wrote to convey their concerns about "the negative
impact" of StarLink on the states' farmers, grain elevators, consumers and
others. The November 14th letter was signed by Attorneys' General from
Iowa, Alabama, Connecticut, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan,
Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma,
South Dakota and Tennessee.

The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy sent a letter to states
Attorneys' General in seven states on November 9 calling for immediate
action to protect farmers from extensive economic harm in relation to the
genetically engineered StarLink corn. IATP charged that farmers and local
grain elevators are vulnerable to significant financial losses and legal
liability because of irresponsible and reckless corporate behavior by
StarLink manufacturer Aventis CropScience. Specifically, Aventis violated
the terms of its StarLink registration by allowing it to enter the human
food supply.

"Legal questions are being raised, liability lawsuits are being prepared -
the Attorneys' General decision to step in and make sure farmers are
treated fairly is vital to protecting the integrity of our food system,"
says Niel Ritchie, IATP National Campaign Director. "We've had to reach out
to State Attorneys General because the USDA has clearly been more
interested in protecting Aventis than farmers."

The Attorneys General letter details a number of steps that Aventis should
take immediately including:

· Compensating farmers, elevators, and buffer growers in an expeditious
manner;
· Providing logistical support to prevent serious disruptions of the grain
handling system;
· Taking concrete steps to accept responsibility for economic losses.

StarLink corn was approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for
animal feed, but not human consumption because of concerns that it might
cause food allergies. Additionally, farmers were required to plant a 660
foot buffer zone around StarLink corn to limit cross pollination with
neighboring non-StarLink corn. Numerous reports indicate that many farmers
were not informed about the need to segregate StarLink, or about the
required 660 foot buffer zone.

In September, StarLink was discovered in Taco Bell, Safeway, and Western
Family taco shells. StarLink has been mixed together with non-StarLink corn
on a mass scale and has contaminated much of the 2000 corn crop. In Iowa,
conservative estimates are that 50 percent of the corn has been
contaminated with StarLink. The Food and Drug Administration has issued a
recall alert for nearly 300 products.

The Attorneys General Letter to Aventis is posted on the Iowa AG website
at: http://www.state.ia.us/government/ag/StarLinkjointletterTJMrelease.htm

To read the press release on IATP's letter to state Attorneys General, go to:
http://www.sustain.org/biotech/library/admin/uploadedfiles/Institute_Calls_o
n_State_Attorneys_General_To_.htm

The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy promotes resilient family
farms, rural communities and ecosystems around the world through research
and education, science and technology, and advocacy.

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