September 25, 2003

Brazil To Allow Planting Of GMO Soybeans

After a long standing debate on whether Brazil should allow GM crops to be planted on its soil, the country looks set to give the thumbs up to biotechnology with a presidential decree.

Vice President Jose Alencar said he will sign a presidential decree governing the planting and sale of genetically modified soybeans for the coming season. This announcement was made during a seminar in the country's capital, Brasilia.

Brazil is currently the world's No. 2 soybean producer, and is expected to overtake the No. 1 spot from the U.S in a matter of years. It is the last major agricultural producer to ban the use of GMOs. But farmers in southern states have disregarded the ban for years now, choosing to plant GMO seeds smuggled in from Argentina or produced on their own farms.