Reuters | December 15, 1999
ROME - Constantino Silva, president of the Association of Young Farmers of Portugal (AJAP), was cited as telling Reuters on Wednesday that he backed U.S. and French farmers who sued life sciences company Monsanto Co for allegedly selling genetically altered crops without first ensuring they were safe, adding "We express our solidarity with the position of the U.S. and French farmers who brought the suit. I think this type of action is good because we need guarantees that genetically altered food is safe."
Silva was further cited as saying some farmers belonging to AJAP, a leading farmers' group in Portugal, were resisting growing genetically modified maize because they were not satisfied that there were sufficient guarantees that it was safe for consumers and the environment.
Monsanto said its products are safe and the lawsuit was unfounded.
