Survey Reveals 90% of Rural Producers in Brazil Recognize Importance of Biotechnology

In an initiative to bring information to rural producers using biotechnology, Brazil's Biotechnology Information Council (CIB) conducted a survey on 1,250 rural producers to outline a scenario about farmers' understanding of the technologies used in soybean and corn crops, and to identify perceptions of their preservation in the field.

CIB reveals that 90% of producers in Brazil recognize the importance of insect resistance and herbicide tolerance technologies. However, only 60% of them know that it takes up to 15 years to develop and launch a new technology. The survey also shows that a significant number of producers still do not carry out important management steps. When asked about the practices they adopt to preserve the biotechnologies and the chemicals they use on the crops, only 38% responded that they perform mechanisms of action and 43% adopt the refuge.

CIB's Executive Director Adriana Brondani said, "Based on this, we believe the producer has a perception that if there is resistance in the field and technology becomes obsolete in this scenario, the industry will come up with a workaround on the problem. Faced with this perception, the concern with the preservation of the technologies is not evident."

For more, visit the CIB website or read the news article (in Portuguese) here.