Illinois Stewardship Alliance Joins National Effort Urging Supreme Court to Hold Pesticide Makers Accountable

SPRINGFIELD -- The Illinois Stewardship Alliance (ISA) is joining a national coalition of farm and labor organizations urging the U.S. Supreme Court to ensure pesticide manufacturers can be held accountable for potential health risks tied to their products.

The coalition filed an amicus curiae brief in support of Missouri farmer John Durnell in the case Monsanto Company v. Durnell, which was argued Monday. At the center of the case is whether federal law preempts state-level lawsuits alleging that companies failed to warn users about potential dangers, including cancer risks associated with glyphosate-based herbicides.

Advocates say the outcome could have sweeping implications for farmers and consumers nationwide, particularly in a marketplace dominated by a small number of agricultural input companies.

“Farmers and communities deserve honesty and accountability,” said Liz Moran Stelk, executive director of the Illinois Stewardship Alliance. “When a handful of companies control inputs, they shouldn't also have the power to hide information.”

The coalition’s brief challenges claims from companies like Monsanto that allowing such lawsuits would disrupt American agriculture or threaten the global food supply. Instead, participating organizations argue that transparency strengthens the agricultural system by allowing farmers to make informed decisions about the products they use.

ISA leaders emphasized that many farmers are increasingly concerned about pesticide exposure, environmental impacts and the consolidation of the agricultural industry. They argue that federal protections should not shield companies from accountability when safety concerns arise.

The organization pointed to its broader work promoting regenerative agriculture and reducing reliance on chemical inputs. That effort was highlighted during Soil Health Week in March, a statewide series of workshops and field events where farmers shared strategies to improve soil health while maintaining productivity.

“Too often, we hear that these chemicals are indispensable,” Stelk said. “But Illinois farmers are proving every day that there are productive, profitable ways to grow food that also protect human health and the environment.”

By joining the brief, ISA said it aims to ensure the Court hears directly from farmers and farmworkers who believe accountability is critical to the long-term sustainability of agriculture.

“This is about fairness and the future of our food system,” Stelk said. “Farmers should not have to choose between productivity and their health.”

More information about the Illinois Stewardship Alliance is available at www.ilstewards.org.