Brazil Wrestles with Decision for GM Corn, Seed Patenting

The commercialization approval of the two genetically modified (GM) corn by the Brazilian National Biosafety Council (BNBC) in February should have allowed the sale of the GM corn seeds in the market, but it wasn't so. Approval of the Bayer's "Liberty Link" corn variety resistant to glufosinate ammonium herbicide and Monsanto's "Mon810" insect resistant corn varieties stirred a debate on seed patenting by multinational companies. The BNBC ruling is supported by  the science and technology minister and his colleagues in the agriculture, foreign affairs, development, defense and justice ministries as well as the secretary of state. Leading university scientists and researchers also support the approval decision because of the improvements in the science; economic, social and environmental benefits associated with the technology; as well as the current improvements in the market.

The ministers of health, environment, agricultural development, and aquaculture and fisheries on the other hand opposed the ruling, with the National Health Surveillance Agency pronouncing that the GM corn can only be sold when the security of the society is considered. Issues such as seed contamination and prohibition of agricultural production came up in the debate.

Brazil is currently the third highest producer of GM crops in the world and scientists are looking at future GM crops such as virus resistant papaya, tomato, and bean crops which will minimize planting risks, reduce use of chemical products and improve agricultural production. In the view of José Maria da Silveira, an agroeconomist from the Unicamp University, in São Paulo State, "anti-GM groups only forecast catastrophe because sometimes they confuse control of technology with militancy against imperialism".

For details of the report see: http://www.ip-watch.org/weblog/index.php?p=963