August 30, 2006

 

Brazil studies decree to allow non-certified GM soy

 

 

Despite opposition from local seed associations, the Brazilian government is studying a decree that would grant soy farmers the right to use non-certified transgenic soy varieties in the upcoming 2006/07 harvest, said an Agricultural Ministry official on Tuesday (Aug 29).

 

"The government is looking into the possibility of liberating the planting of non-certified GM soy seeds, though there is currently no deadline as to when this may happen," said Marcus Vinicius Coelho, the bio-security coordinator at the Agricultural Ministry said.

 

Local soy farmers--especially those in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul--are lobbying for the passage of such a decree, in order to qualify for seed financing from the state-owned Banco do Brasil, as well as for rural insurance.

 

In the past two harvests, Brazil passed temporary provisional congressional measures legalising the use of non-registered GM seed varieties, due to fears that the country would not have enough certified seeds available for rural producers.

 

This year, however, "we have enough legally-certified seeds to supply the national market," said Ywao Miyamoto, president of the country's National Association of Seeds (Abrasem), adding that the Agricultural Ministry has now certified several GM varieties of soy for this harvest, including those developed by the state-linked agricultural research firm Embrapa as well US multi-national Monsanto's Roundup Ready (RR) variety.

 

At the same time, "the amount of (soy) seeds used in Rio Grande do Sul has never surpassed 124,000 tonnes annually in the past 10 years," he added. "This year, we have 166,000 tonnes of certified seeds for Rio Grande do Sul."

 

Nevertheless, local producers have been applying political pressure in an election year to have such a decree passed, as the sector seeks relief from woes such as plummeting export profit margins from a strong Brazilian real, debts coming home to roost, and considerable input costs.

 

If the decree is passed, it will be before the official start of the country's upcoming soy harvest, which will take place in the second half of October, added Coelho.

 

However, this year, the government is not seeking the passage of another provisional measure, which would need the approval of Congress, but rather the possibility of a presidential decree, which just requires the President's signature before taking effect, he said.

 

Non-registered GM seeds have floated around Brazil for at least a decade, due to contraband soy varieties with Monsanto genes smuggled into the country via Argentina and other countries. At the same time, farmers have traditionally saved seeds after soy harvests for use in future harvests.

 

However, such seeds are genetically contaminated, have never been tested for use in Brazil, could expose the country to foreign pests, and are also not cheaper to buy in the long run, said Miyamoto.