Facing a tough time in India over sale of its genetically modified seeds, Monsanto has started talking to US lawmakers to seek their support for its interest in the growing Indian market. The company's registered lobbyist Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld has disclosed Monsanto has paid more than Rs 1 crore since the last quarter of 2015 for lobbying on issues related to the regulation of biotechnology products in India along with a couple of other specific issues.

As per disclosures made by the lobbying firm, it worked for Monsanto on India-specific issues in the US Senate, the US House of Representatives, the Department of State, the Department of Commerce and the US Trade Representative (USTR) during the second quarter of 2016.

In its latest disclosure report, Monsanto has said that it had paid as much as $50,000 for lobbying activities till the quarter ended June 30. Similar amounts were disclosed for each of the two previous quarters, taking the total amount to $150,000.

Besides issues relating to regulations in India, Monsanto's lobbyists have also disclosed having lobbied on a few other issues in these quarters. These include: US regulatory approval of agricultural products and those relating to biotech approvals in China and also the Defend Trade Secrets Act of the US.