Pollen drift and potential causes of action

IMAGE TABLE 1

I. INTRODUCTION

The Krafts1 have farmed for generations in the black soil of America's heartland. Matthew Kraft and his father and grandfather before him have grown

organic corn on their 300-acre family farm in LaPorte City, Iowa. Farming has been their livelihood, producing a respectable income allowing them to live a modest lifestyle. During the last decade, the Krafts received premium prices for their "organically certified" corn.2

Organic foods have become increasingly popular among consumers who prefer natural ingredients and are concerned about the "impurity" of genetically modified crops.3 In fact, the organic food sector has been growing an incredible twenty percent per year since 1990.4 These staggering statistics are a result of fierce consumer resistance to genetically modified foods in the United States, Europe, and Asia.5 The Krafts have reaped the economic benefits of selling organic corn for approximately $4.00 a bushel as opposed to the open market price of $1.67.6