US court hears Monsanto case on seed saving

A judge in Mississippi has heard Monsanto's case over the $27 million damages it is seeking from a Tupelo farm supply business over saving and selling Monsanto's patented seeds.

Judge Michael Mills has not yet reached a decision on the case, though he has also heard from Mitchell and Eddie Scruggs, the owners of Scruggs Farm Supplies, the company which Monsanto has raised its complaint against.

A federal appeals court in Washington in 2006 upheld a ruling that the Scruggses violated Monsanto's licensing requirements and its patent for use of the company's seeds.

Saving Monsanto's seeds, genetically engineered to kill bugs and resist weed sprays, violates provisions of the company's contracts with farmers, the company claimed.

Monsanto has filed similar claims in the past and has been contested by farmers, who often say that they are just carrying out an age old farming practice - saving seeds.

Monsanto, however, has a policy that prohibits farmers from saving or reusing the seeds once the crop is grown.