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Brazil and biotech beans (Thursday, Aug. 14, 2003 -- CropChoice news) -- The following three stories serve as an update on Brazil and biotech beans.
SAO PAULO, Brazil -- A federal judge Tuesday lifted a ban preventing
U.S. agricultural giant Monsanto Co. from selling genetically modified
soybean seeds in Brazil.
Monsanto welcomed the ruling by Judge Selene Maria de Almeida, but the
company's victory could be short-lived. Two other judges who serve on
her appeals panel could reverse the decision, effectively putting back
in place the ban approved in 2000.
Monsanto wants the seeds legalized to recoup lost profits from
widespread illicit use in Brazil of its Roundup Ready soybean seeds.
Brazilian growers use seeds smuggled into Brazil from neighboring
countries, then grow more on their own land. The Brazilian government
rarely enforces the law, and experts estimate 17 percent of the
country's soybean crop are grown from the seeds.
Brazil harvested about 52 million metric tons of soybeans during the
2002-2003 season, making it the second largest producer after the United
States.
The judge agreed with Monsanto's position that there are no legal or
scientific reasons to ban genetically modified seeds, and that Brazil's
robust agricultural industry could suffer if growers are not allowed to
use the seeds.
Environmentalists, including Greenpeace, oppose the use of genetically
modified seeds because of suspicions they could harm the environment.
Monsanto in June warned about 250 exporters that buy Brazilian soybeans
and 150 importers that the company would soon start monitoring exports
of crops grown with the illicit seeds.
The move came as the struggling St. Louis-based company is shifting its
business focus from manufacturing herbicides to developing and selling
genetically engineered seeds around the world.
It has complained bitterly for years about Brazilian farmers using
Monsanto's technology without paying for it. Monsanto has also been
lobbying the Brazilian government to legalize genetically engineered
crops.
Monsanto shares rose 40 cents Tuesday to close at $21.89 on the New York Stock Exchange.
Brazil's Agriculture Minister Roberto Rodrigues has said the government
is to submit to Congress this week a draft bill to regulate the growing
and sale of genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
Rodrigues said the bill would be given priority attention, allowing
debates and a vote within 45 days, reported Reuters. That way, the
government's position on the planting of GM soy should be made clear
before the beginning of the summer crop planting season, which begins in
late September or early October and continues to December.
Despite a continued ban on the planting and commercial sale of GM crops
in Brazil, black market GM soybeans have been widely planted in parts of
the country. The government announced earlier this year that it would
allow the sale of illegal GM soy until early next year.
Source: http://www.just-food.com/news_detail.asp?art=55039
1995--Implementation of the Law of Bio-security and the creation of the
National Technical Commission of Bio-security (CTNBio). Use of GMO's
must have the authorization of this Commission.
1996--Monsanto begins research with genetically-modified soy in Brazil.
1998--CTNBio approves of the use of Monsanto's Roundup Ready soy in the
south of the country. The authorization was given without an
environmental impact study. The consumer watchdog group Idec obtained a
court order barring CTNBio's authorization.
2000--Judge Antonio Prudente extends the court order that prohibited the
planting of GMO's. The Union and Monsanto try to appeal the decision,
but their appeal was denied.
2002--The Union and Monsanto make a new motion which is still pending
vote in the Federal Regional Tribunal. One of the three judges has
already indicated she is in favor of the use of GMO's in the country.
A Few Facts about GMO's
-Nearly 99 percent of all cultivated GMO's are restricted to four
countries: United States, Canada, Argentina, and China.
-There are already 30 countries which prohibit the cultivation of GMO's.
-The majority of countries require labeling of GMO's on food products if
the GMO's make up more than 5 percent of the product.
-Nearly 80 percent of Europeans do not want to consume products with
GMO's.
-What is increasing in the world is not the cultivation of GMO's, but
the cultivation of organic products. It is estimated that by 2005 nearly
one fourth of all agriculture will be organic.
-If the Brazilian government permits the cultivation of GMO's, five
transnational companies will completely dominate the corn, soy, wheat
and cotton seed markets. This puts at risk the country's sovereignty,
relying on the good will of these companies.
-During the Fernando Henrique Cardoso presidency, the government gave a
low-interest US$ 250 million loan to Monsanto for the construction of a
factory which produces Glifosato. Glifosato is the prime material of the
Roundup herbicides, generally sold with Roundup Ready
genetically-altered seeds. The former president therefore helped to lay
the groundwork for the production of genetically-altered seeds.
-If the government had used the aforesaid money to construct domestic
water wells in the semi- arid Northeast, the problem of potable water
would have been solved for one million families. | |
