American Soybean Association

American Soybean Association (ASA) claims to be 'a non-profit, farmer-controlled organisation working to strengthen soybeans as a viable crop' but it enjoys a remarkably close relationship with Monsanto and other biotech corporations.

In fiscal year 2000 it received $2.1 million of its $26.7 million budget from Monsanto, Pioneer Hi-Bred International, BASF, Stein Seed Co. and others, says controller Brian Vaught. (CropChoice Source)

In 2001, the Association spent $280,000 to work with the Council for Biotechnology Information and the National Corn Growers Association to achieve "a unified message about the benefits of transgenic crops." (Source: CropChoice)

That message has been brought to Europe, where, ASA Technical Director Kimball Nill warns, 'Various pressure groups and some media are hoodwinking the public by making unsubstantiated assertions about US farmers adoption of biotechnology. Their random statements are ludicrous, untrue and deliberately misleading'.

Some US farmers feel ASA and similar groups 'are helping agribusiness to enhance its power and profitability at the expense of the very people they're supposed to represent - farmers.' ( Source: CropChoice)