GMO UPDATE: BRAZIL, EU, UGANDA, US

Brazil authorises planting of GM soy for this season

Last week, Brazil authorised the planting of genetically modified (GM) soy until the end of the year and the sale of GM soy crops until the end of 2004. This emergency measure was necessary to address the shortage of conventional soybeans for this harvest, Rio Grande do Sul Governor Germano Rigotto noted. The government, however, has not given permission to sell or import GM soy seed in Brazil; rather farmers can only plant the previously illegal GM seed stocks they already possess. "It would still be two to three years before we can go to the producer with any significant volume of GM seeds," said Caio Vidor, Director General of Embrapa Soja, the government's crop research body. Many see this decision as a victory for the US based company Monsanto, which wants to sell its Roundup Ready soybean seeds to the second largest soy producer after the US and regain lost profits from widespread illegal use of their product, estimated to amount to over USD 60 million a year.

The environmental group Greenpeace has already announced its intention to challenge the government's decision as unconstitutional. They argue that it contravenes a court order in 2000 that requires environmental studies to be carried out before GM crops could be planted. These studies were never done, Greenpeace alleges. "We will go to court immediately and so will the Green party and the public prosecutor," said Tatiana Carvalho, Co-ordinator of the consumer rights campaign with Greenpeace Brazil. Opponents of the legalisation are also frustrated with the turnaround of the current government, which had resisted GM crops when it was in opposition.

EU member states divided over co-existence

At the 29 September meeting of the Council of Agriculture Ministers, EU member states were divided over how to address the coexistence of GM and conventional crops. The most controversial issues included thresholds for genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in organic produce, civil responsibility thresholds for GMOs in seeds and the possibility of setting up GM-free zones. Austria and Luxembourg insisted on strict EU legislation to limit the spread of GMOs from biotech crops to organic and conventional varieties. Both countries criticised the European Commission's guidelines released last July (see BRIDGES Trade BioRes, 25 August 2003) as too vague, providing too much flexibility for countries on how to sow GM crop.

France, on the other hand, was pushing for maximum flexibility. French maize farmers are expected to quickly adopt new GM strains once they become available. In addition to the EU-wide de facto moratorium on the approvals of new GMOs (in place since 1998), France also bans the commercial planting of maize varieties already approved in the EU. These restrictions are expected to be lifted once the new labelling and traceability regulations come into effect (see BRIDGES Trade BioRes, 3 August 2003). "It certainly won't happen next year. But once it takes off, I see exponential growth in their use and it will happen quite quickly," said Gregoire Berthe, President of the maize seed growers union SEPROMA.

The UK also appears willing to accept the flexibility proposed by the Commission. In a 5 September letter to Cabinet colleagues, Environment Secretary Margaret Beckett proposed "that we broadly support the [European] Commission's guidelines as providing a reasonable basis to address the issue". Her perspective is in stark contrast with the views of Britain's general public, whose main concern over GMOs relates to the risk of cross contamination of non-GM crops, according to a 24 September report assessing public opinion on GMOs in the UK (see below).

The Agriculture Council will continue its debate at its meeting on 13-14 October, but it will await the opinion of the Standing Committee on Seeds scheduled for 26-27 October.

Uganda to import GMOs

Last month, Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni announced that he would allow the future importation of GM crops that had already been processed and could not contaminate native plants. He emphasised the benefits of the technology, citing GM coffee, which gives five times as much yield as the traditional coffee. Museveni's decision, however, has raised concerns that Uganda might alienate various countries, in particular the EU. Tensions could also arise with other Sub-Saharan African countries, such as Malawi and Zambia, which continue to oppose GM foods and had put up the strongest resistance to the import of GM food aid last year. Dr John Aluma from the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) attributed the President's decision to pressure from the US. "There has never been pressure on any other technology," he said. "When it came to GM, the whole US government is behind it. That is how it has attained a political pressure."

2 biotech surveys, 2 continents, 2 contrasting results

US citizens' knowledge of GM foods remains limited, according to the results released by the Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology. In 2001, 44 percent had heard a 'great deal' or 'some' about biotechnology use in food production. Today, that number is 36 percent, a nine percent decline. 58 percent of Americans believe that they have not eaten GM foods, although GM ingredients are contained in approximately 70-75 percent of processed food in grocery stores. Respondents were split in their opinion on GM foods: 29 percent said GM foods were safe, whereas 25 percent believed they were unsafe. Most consumers are uncomfortable with the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) voluntary consultation program with the biotech industry, supporting a more active role by the FDA to ensure GM food safety. "A very strong 89 percent of the respondents supported the idea that the FDA should have a mandatory process under which they find the (genetically engineered) foods are safe before they can be marketed," said Michael Rodemeyer, Executive Director of the Pew Initiative, in Washington, D.C.

The British perspective on this issue drastically contrasts the US one. In a report published on 24 September based on the largest official government sponsored consultation to gauge British public opinion on this issue, the British public revealed their uneasiness with genetic modification. The findings of the "GM Nation?" debate said most people were "cautious, suspicious or outrightly hostile" towards GM crops. 54 percent of people were against commercialisation of GM crops, while only 2 percent said GM crops were acceptable "in any circumstances", 18 percent said they would find it acceptable only if there was no risk of cross-contamination, and 13 percent wanted more research. The findings of the report also suggest that attitudes become more negative as the public acquires more knowledge of the GM issues. Moreover, the document highlights a widespread mistrust of the government and multinational corporations involved in the technology.

"Brazil removes block on GM soya," CHECKBIOTECH, 26 September 2003; "Brazil's president to decide whether to legalize genetically modified crops," SIOUX CITY JOURNAL, 19 September 2003; "Brazil agrees to grow GM crops," GUARDIAN, 26 September 2003; "Museveni finally gives in to GM food production," THE EAST AFRICAN, 24 September 2003; "Farmers oppose Museveni over GM foods," NEW VISION, 9 September 2003;"Uganda's push for GM," BBC NEWS, 11 October 2003; Americans' knowledge of genetically modified foods remains low and opinions on safety split, PEWAGBIOTECH, 18 September 2003; French maize farmers seen embracing GM, eventually, REUTERS, 19 September 2003, Divided EU to debate ways to grow GMO crops, REUTERS, 26 September 2003; Leaked letters show government backs commercial growing of GM crops, INDEPENDENT, 23 September 2003; The GM debate has raised some legitimate concerns, CHECKBIOTECH, 25 September 2003.