April 28, 2009

 

Brazilian soy farmers face loss as crops contaminated by GM strains

The spread of genetically-modified (GM) damages into conventional soy crop areas has caused losses to farmers in some regions of Brazil.

 

In Parana, in addition to having to pay royalties, some of these farmers have had their sales contracts cancelled by buyers who only want traditional soy.

 

The farmers who opt for planting traditional soy do so because of the higher remuneration, of BRR$2.00 (US$0.901) per bag.

 

However, the inadequate handling of seeds or of the crop itself can contaminate traditional crops through GM dust.

 

According to an unidentified source in Parana, contamination has been mostly caused by faulty sowing-machines.

 

US$1 = BRR2.219 (Apr 28)