Black Farmers Call for Boycott of Monsanto Products

May 12 This news just in from Eco-Farm and USAgNet. This is the same industrial model of corporate consolidation that is currently the basis for the biofuels boom, i.e., the merger of major genetic engineering companies with giant grain and cellulose companies. Encountering resistance to GMOs in our food system, Monsanto and Syngenta are looking to spread them into our fuel and fiber industries.

The legitimate struggle of the National Black Farmers Association is the first of many to come. Stopping Monsanto here is important for all of us.

See below:
The National Black Farmers Association is calling on its 66,000
members to launch a nationwide boycott of agricultural giant Monsanto
to protest a proposed a $1.5 billion merger by the company that would
reduce competition and crush small farmers.

Dr. John Boyd, president of the community-based farmers' advocacy
group, will lead a news conference at the U.S Department of Justice
on Wednesday to announce the boycott as part of the group's
opposition to the proposed merger between Monsanto Corporation and
the Delta and Pine Land Company, the largest cottonseed company in
the country.

"If the Department of Justice allows this merger goes through, it
will create a Godzillian-monopoly that will have a drastic effect on
black and other small farmers around the country," said Boyd, whose
organization joins the growing chorus of agriculture and consumer
groups, legal experts and politicians who have registered their
opposition.

The Department of Justice is now conducting a review to determine
whether the acquisition violates antitrust rules. Legal experts
expect the department to issue its decision this month.

Boyd has petitioned the House Judiciary Committee to hold hearings on
the matter and has indicated the NBFA is prepared to file suit to
seek an injunction against the merger.

http://www.wisconsinagconnection.com/story-national.php?Id=756&yr=2007