Monsanto is finally being held liable for genetically engineered wheat that was found growing illegally on an Oregon farm in 2013. The "Roundup Ready" wheat genetically modified to withstand applications of glyphosate has been tested in 16 states, including Oregon, from 1998 to 2005, but has never been approved, for reasons that remain unclear.

A farmer discovered the GM wheat when he found it growing like a weed where it wasn't expected. He sprayed the plant with Roundup and noticed that some of it survived, reports Grist.org. He then sent samples of the wheat to a laboratory that later confirmed the wheat's GMO status.

While the biotech giant downplayed incident, others didn't react so calmly. Anti-GMO countries including Japan, South Korea and those of the European Union (EU) temporarily suspended all U.S. wheat orders, fearing that the supply might be contaminated with GMOs.

Monsanto ordered to pay up for illegal GM wheat found growing in Oregon in 2013, despite claims the company stopped testing the experimental plant 10 years ago

On Wednesday, November 12, Monsanto reached a settlement with U.S wheat farmers who sued the seed company over "market disruption" following discovery of the unapproved GMO wheat growing in Oregon, reports confirm.

Monsanto, who said they stopped testing the GM wheat at least a decade ago, reportedly destroyed or "stored away" all of the experimental grain.