Is Your Alfafa Too Organic? Ban Lifted on Roundup-Ready Alfafa

The Supreme Court has lifted a ban on biotech alfafa. Environmental groups and organic farmers sued the U.S. Department of Agriculture stating that the agency’s decision to grant deregulated status to Roundup Ready alfalfa violated the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Lower courts enjoined almost all planting and sale of Roundup-Ready alfalfa.

The Supreme Court found that the district court overstepped its boundaries by believing the only course of action was a complete injunction against biotech alfafa.

“The District Court abused its discretion in enjoining APHIS [Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service] from effecting a partial deregulation and in prohibiting the possibility of planting in accordance with the terms of such a deregulation,” concluded the court.

By Robert Hune-Kalter