Burkina Faso sues Monsanto over reported cotton - sportstextiles: Lea SportsTextiles

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Burkina Faso sues Monsanto over reported cotton quality decline

07/04/2016
Burkina Faso's cotton association is seeking $83.91 million in compensation from seed company Monsanto after it said genetically modified cotton led to a drop in quality, according to a report on Reuters.

The Inter-professional Cotton Association of Burkina (AICB) began introducing Monsanto's Bollgard II in 2009 as protection against caterpillars. However, it believes the trait increased levels of short fibres, reducing its market value.

AIBC met Monsanto but failed to reach an agreement on the issue. Cotton is Burkino Faso’s second biggest revenue earner after gold.

Monsanto said changes concerning fibre length had been observed, but added that fibre quality is influenced by both environmental conditions and genetic background.

"This variation exists between all cotton varieties (conventional or biotech) and is independent of the Bollgard II trait," spokesman William Brennan said to Reuters.

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