SAO PAULO, Brazil: The Brazilian subsidiary of Swiss agricultural chemicals and seeds company Syngenta AG asked a court Tuesday to halt the expropriation of its farm near the Iguacu waterfalls straddling the border of Brazil and Argentina.

The 123-hectare (304-acre) property was confiscated last November by the state government of Parana after officials claimed that Syngenta's research on the farm into genetically modified corn was illegal.

The state government wants to transform the property into an educational center for environment-friendly agriculture, Syngenta said in a statement.

Syngenta asked a state court in Parana for an injunction to stop the expropriation, saying it wants to continue research at the site and contending that there are better locations for the educational center.

About 300 poor farm laborers opposed to biotech crops developed by Syngenta invaded the farm last year and camped there to publicize their claims that Syngenta was conducting illegal research into genetically modified soy and corn crops.

Syngenta is one of Brazil's top agrochemical retailers, and a leading researcher into genetically modified crops.