SAN FRANCISCO - A federal district court judge on March 17 denied a request by organic seed growers, conservation and food safety groups to ban the use of genetically engineered sugar beet seeds until an environmental review of the seeds can be completed.

Judge Jeffrey White's decision allows growers in Colorado and other states to continue planting Monsanto Co.'s genetically engineered Roundup Ready sugar beet seeds when planting season arrives in May.

Last fall, a federal court in California ruled that the U.S. Department of Agriculture failed to adequately study possible environmental and economic risks that the genetically engineered beets might cause. A court-ordered review is under way by the federal Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

According to Monsanto, more than 1 million acres of Roundup Ready sugar beet varieties have been planted in 10 U.S. states and two Canadian provinces over the last four years. About 95 percent of the seeds planted in the United States last year were Roundup Ready, according to the company, which claims such seeds need fewer applications of pesticides and are more weed-resistant, increasing yields and farmer profits.

While Judge White sided with Monsanto in rejecting the temporary ban, he said the "parties should not assume that the court's decision to deny a preliminary injunction is indicative of its views on a permanent injunction pending the full environmental review that APHIS is required to do."

The judge said he was allowing planting to go forward in 2010 because a lack of conventional seed might lead to a sugar beet shortage. In Colorado, about 40,000 acres of sugar beets were harvested last year, mostly from genetically engineered seeds.

Opponents of Roundup Ready seeds said they planned to seek a permanent injunction against their use at the next court hearing on July 9.

"Based on today's ruling, we are encouraged that Judge White will order permanent injunction relief," said Paul Achitoff, attorney for Earthjustice, in a statement. "We will ask the court to halt the use of genetically engineered sugar beets and seeds until the federal government does its job to protect consumers and farmers alike."