Syngenta 12 November 2014 letter to film director Jens Pedersen
An independent investigation has been completed into your central allegation that, through our contracted grower-organizers, Syngenta knowingly supports widespread money-lending at high interest rates to maize growers in Andhra Pradesh, India, for their cultivation of Syngenta seed...The investigation was based on non-confrontational fact-finding interviews with Mohammed Sufi, Rathia and Nagendra and confirmed that your central allegation is indeed false...The interviewees..said they were unaware of money-lending or credit schemes at high interest rates for cultivation purposes offered by grower-organizers with Syngenta’s support...there are no simple answers to India’s labor challenges and we, and our partners, have much work to do. Alongside the FLA, we are helping to build a more ethical supply chain in India, while adding to the quality of life of growers, their families and communities.