Protesters rallied in dozens of cities Saturday as part of a global protest against seed giant Monsanto and the genetically modified food it produces, organizers said.

Organizers said “March Against Monsanto” protests were held in 52 countries and 436 cities.

“March Against Monsanto” organizers say they’re calling attention to the dangers posed by genetically modified food and the companies that produce it.

Monsanto is based in St. Louis. The company said Saturday that it respects people’s rights to express their opinion, but believes its seeds help farmers produce more food, while conserving water and energy.

Genetically modified plants are grown from seeds engineered to resist insecticides and herbicides, add nutritional benefits and improve crop yields.

Some believe they can lead to health problems and harm the environment. Opponents have pushed for mandatory labeling in California and worldwide, and have also accused the company of suing farmers when GMO seeds are blown into non-GMO fields. The federal government and many scientists say the technology is safe.