WASHINGTON — Monsanto Co. spent $2.18 million in the second quarter to lobby the federal government on a proposed changes to U.S. patent law and other issues that could affect the world’s largest seed company, according to a disclosure report.
The company lobbied the U.S. Department of Justice and Congress on antitrust and consolidation issues in agriculture. Monsanto’s use of patents is under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice. At issue is whether Monsanto has violated antitrust laws though its tight control of patented genes.
That’s up from the $2.08 million Monsanto spent during the period a year earlier, but down slightly from the $2.46 million it spent in the first quarter of 2010, after the DOJ launched its investigation.
Monsanto also lobbied the federal government on the USDA’s approval of genetically engineered crops, according to the report filed July 20 with the House clerk’s office.
In April through June, Monsanto lobbied Congress, the Environmental Protection Agency, the White House, U.S. Trade Representative and the U.S. Departments of State, Interior, Commerce, Defense and Agriculture, according to the report.
