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Genetically modified food in South America

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Brazil and Argentina are the 2nd and 3rd largest producers of genetically modified food behind the United States.[1]

The Argentine government was one of the first to accept genetically modified food. Assessment of genetically modified products for release is provided by the National Agricultural Biotechnology Advisory Committee (environmental impact), the National Service of Health and Agrifood Quality (food safety) and the National Agribusiness Direction (effect on trade), with the final decision made by the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Fishery and Food.[2] The government is looking to tighten the current law which allows farmers to keep seed without paying royalties in a bid to encourage more private investment.[3]

In Brazil the National Biosafety Technical Commission is responsible for assessing environmental and food safety and prepares guidelines for transport, importation and field experiments involving GM products. The Council of Ministers evaluates the commercial and economical issues with release.[2] The National Biosafety Technical Commission has 27 members and includes 12 scientists, 9 ministerial representatives and 6 other specialists.

Honduras,[4] Costa Rica,[5] Colombia,[6] Bolivia,[7] Paraguay,[8] Chile,[9] and Uruguay[10] also allow GM crops to be grown.

Venezuela banned genetically modified seeds in 2004,[11] in 2008, Ecuador prohibited genetically engineered crops and seeds in its 2008 Constitution, approved by 64% of the population in a referendum[12] (although Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa said in 2012 that this was "a mistake").[13] Peru has banned transgenic crops.[13]

References

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  1. ^ "Slides & Tables : Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops: 2010 - ISAAA Brief 42-2010 - ISAAA.org".
  2. ^ a b BASF presentation Archived 2011-09-28 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ "Argentina poised to update seed law-Argentina, seed, GM, crop, biotech". ArgoNews. May 18, 2010.
  4. ^ (2010) Biotech Facts and Trends Honduras 2010 ISAAA, Retrieved 9 August 2013
  5. ^ (2013)GM Crop Events approved in Costa Rica ISAAA GM Approval database, Retrieved 9 August 2013
  6. ^ (2012) Biotech Facts and Trends Columbia 2012 ISAAA, Retrieved 9 August 2013
  7. ^ Herbst, Allyson (6 June 2013) Government Plans to Expand Use of GM Foods Archived 2013-10-08 at the Wayback Machine Bolivia Weekly, Retrieved 9 August 2013
  8. ^ (2013) Biotech Facts and Trends Paraguay 2013 ISAAA, Retrieved 9 August 2013
  9. ^ (2012) Uruguay Annual Biotechnology Report 2012 Archived 2017-07-12 at the Wayback Machine USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, Global Agricultural Information Network Retrieved 9 August 2013
  10. ^ Venezuela: Chavez Dumps Monsanto. Globalpolicy.org (2004-05-05). Retrieved on 2011-02-08.
  11. ^ Pena, Karla (2008) "Putting Food First in the Constitution of Ecuador," Food First Institute for Food & Development Policy, https://www.foodfirst.org/en/node/2301 Archived 2012-04-29 at the Wayback Machine, (updated 31 October 2008, accessed 21 May 2008).
  12. ^ a b (2 October 2012)Transgenic Products Gain Ground Central American Data, Retrieved 9 August 2013
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