U.S. Supreme Court: Farmers Can't Steal Monsanto's Patented Seeds

The case involving the Creve Coeur-based agri-giant was seen as having implications far beyond the world of seeds.

The United States Supreme Court ruled unanimously in favor of Creve Coeur-based Monsanto, ruling an Indiana farmer improperly mixed seeds from the firm with others in a way that tampered with Monsanto's patent. The court heard arguments in the case back in February. USA Today reports: Monsanto's soybeans represent the cream of the crop because they are resistant to the weed killer Roundup. Farmers must pay Monsanto's price to plant the beans themselves. That's not what Indiana farmer Vernon Hugh Bowman did. After one year of going through Monsanto, he bought his second crop from a grain elevator. Then he used his own soybeans that resisted Roundup in future years — in essence, the court said, making copies of a patented invention. Two …

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Vote for Student Poetry Foundation in Monsanto Contest

Find out what organization could take home $20,000.

Monsanto's $400 Million Chesterfield Expansion Could Have Creve Coeur Impact

Update: The announcement says labs and jobs will transfer to Chesterfield, but a spokesperson says the deal means more jobs for both locations.

Updated 2:10 p.m. with more reaction from company and city officials. Chesterfield will be at the heart of a $400 million expansion announced by agribusiness giant Monsanto today as it seeks to add more plant growth chambers, offices and laboratory space to its Chesterfield Village Research center over the next three years. The company announced the major news Tuesday and in a press release said the project will add 675 jobs to the already 1,000 positions at the Chesterfield site.  The new facilities will be aimed at developing the company’s seed and trait pipeline while allowing for coloration among researches to find ways to make agriculture more productive and sustainable.   “Monsanto has pledged to help those in agriculture find new …

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Monsanto vs. Farmers In U.S. Supreme Court Tuesday

Tech giants Apple and Microsoft and the Justice Department are siding with Creve Coeur based Monsanto in high court hearing.

For the second time in the current United State Supreme Court session, justices will be hearing a case with connections to Creve Coeur. Read: Pattonville Grad Argues DWI Case at U.S. Supreme Court Tuesday, the court takes up arguments brought by an Indiana farmer Vernon Bowman against Creve Coeur-based agrigiant Monsanto. The questions, according to the court? Whether a Federal Circuit erred by (1) refusing to find patent exhaustion in patented seeds even after an authorized sale and by (2) creating an exception to the doctrine of patent exhaustion for self-replicating technologies? Connect: Facebook | Twitter | Newsletters | Blogging | Posting Photos | Announcements | Events

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Occupy Monsanto Protests Shareholder Meeting

Monsanto's shareholders held their annual meeting at the corporate headquarters in Creve Coeur.

Shareholders for Monsanto gathered on the campus of the Creve Coeur agri-giant's world headquarters Thursday to elect members of the company's Board of Directors. Approximately eight demonstrators, calling themselves Occupy Monsanto, spent several hours Thursday afternoon holding signs and banners along Olive Boulevard. The group was protesting Monsanto's use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and its lack of transparency in research.  Adam Eidinger, speaking on behalf of Harrington Investments and the Pesticide Action Network, read a statement to protesters before heading inside to speak to other shareholders. Eidinger said he owns 75 shares of Monsanto stock.  Eidinger said he was going to speak to the shareholders about …

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Creve Coeur-Olivette Chamber Inaugurates New President & Board

New board members were sworn in during the organization's December meeting Thursday. Monsanto's Teresa Crossland will serve as President in 2013.

The Creve Coeur-Olivette Chamber of Commerce held the organization's monthly membership meeting Thursday at the Marriot in West St. Louis County, drawing a close to 2012 and ushering in a new President for 2013, Monsanto's Teresa Crossland, and a new board of directors. Take a glance at photos from the event, which also included raffle prizes from local businesses and entertainment from members of the Pattonville High School band. In addition, seven new businesses who officially joined the chamber earlier this month were recognized.

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Restaurant Report: Inspectors Check Out Monsanto

Plus: Find out why they want to return to CityPlace next month.

Each week, Patch publishes information from the local restaurant inspections of St. Louis County Department of Health as well as their grade. Here are some of the latest restaurant inspections from the past 90 days: Arby’s Roast Beef Address: 1275 Graham Rd., Florissant Date of Inspection: Nov. 6 Type of Inspection: Routine Risk Factor: 2 Grade: 98-A Comments: Hepatitis A documentation not maintained in a clear and concise manner. Observed damaged and missing tiles throughout the kitchen. Inspector advised that all damaged tiles and cove basing shall be repaired as needed. There is a missing ceiling tile in the utility closet that will also be replaced. Monsanto Address: 800 N. Lindbergh, Creve Coeur MO 63141 Date of Inspection: Nov. 19 …

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Update: Monsanto Reacts To Win In California Food Fight

The Creve Coeur-based firm heavily financed the opposition to Prop 37.

California's Proposition 37, which would have required genetically modified foods to be labeled for consumers, has fallen to defeat. With 99 percent of the vote counted, the measure has fallen to defeat by 53%-47% margin, according to Baldwin Park (CA) Patch. Creve Coeur-based Monsanto contributed millions of dollars to the campaign to fight the measure. The company declined opportunities to comment on the impact of the initiative prior to the election, but Wednesday morning a spokeswoman issued the following statement: "Californians have decided that Prop 37 is not in their best interests. Consumers have many choices and can select the products they prefer. We expect the food industry to continue meeting the needs of their customers …

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Missouri Statewide Ballot Measures: What You Need To Know

No matter where you live in Missouri, you'll be able to decide on these four ballot questions on Tuesday's ballot

  Meanwhile, a ballot question in California will be watched closely by Creve Coeur-based Monsanto.  According to Baldwin Park Patch, "Proposition 37 would make California the first state in the union to require that certain plant or animal products sold be labeled if its genetic material has been modified." Monsanto has supported the opposition campaign with more than $8 million in donations, the largest single donor to the effort, according to votersedge.org. Last month, a company spokeswoman told Patch that while Monsanto supports the No on 37 efforts, "We can’t really speculate on what this would mean for the company, it’s too soon to know what the specific requirements are that may be imposed should the initiative pass, and how food …

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National Guard Unit Back From Afghanistan, Getting Back To Life At Home

The Missouri Guard's Agricultural Development Team was feted in Creve Coeur and St. Charles over the weekend.

Monday morning will be Steve Bereitschaft's first day back on the job as a project engineer at IDX, a firm headquartered in Earth City that manufactures store fixtures. Bereitschaft, a Specialist in the Missouri Army National Guard from Arnold, is just a few weeks removed from a tour of duty in Afghanistan. His unit, part of the Guard's Agricultural Development team, was charged with helping win over Afghan hearts and minds by helping people on the ground there adapt to 21st century agricultural practices. It meant teaching them ways to steer farmers toward a model that, among other things, doesn't include the poppy trade, which has had links to funding terrorism in the region. His team leader, Command Sgt. Maj. Phillip M. Lederle, of …

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