It’s no mystery why proponents and opponents of genetically engineered crops have kept a close eye on Brazil: The South American giant ranks among the world’s leading food exporters. And in Brazil, transgenic agriculture has not received the largely opposition-free public relations ride it has enjoyed in Argentina and the United States. (See “Argentina becomes a bio-tech proving ground”—EcoAméricas, Feb. ‘99.) In fact, one Brazilian state has launched a campaign to stamp out transgenic plantings, which so far have been permitted here solely for seed production and experimentation. None of which is to say Brazilian farmers don’t covet the new seed varieties. Soy producers, for instance, look longingly south, where Argentine farmers claim they have been getting 10% more beans at 15... [Log in to read more]
