High Court rejects organic farmer's appeal

An organic farmer who failed in a bid to sue his neighbour after genetically modified canola blew on to his West Australian property has been denied leave to appeal by the High Court.

Steve Marsh claimed he lost organic certification for 70 per cent of his Kojonup farm after contamination from his neighbour's herbicide-resistant crop in 2010.

Mr Marsh had sought $85,000 in damages but lost the lawsuit against childhood friend Michael Baxter in the WA Supreme Court in 2014 and was ordered to pay court costs of about $804,000.

The Court of Appeal also ruled in favour of Mr Baxter in a two-to-one vote in September last year.

Mr Marsh sought special leave to appeal in the High Court, but on Friday the case was dismissed.

The decision means Mr Marsh has no further appeal options.

Gene Ethics director Bob Phelps, who supported Mr Marsh, said the case deserved a High Court review and the group was disappointed by the rejection of the application.