Brazil farmers fight for GMOs - Truth About Trade and Technology

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Monday, 29 November 1999 18:00

Reuters Brazil`s powerful farmers are fighting to reduce what they see as red tape and too much influence by environmentalists in a draft bill to regulate genetically modified foods.

The bill, under discussion by Senate committees after approval by the lower house of Congress earlier this month, is seen by farmers as leaning in favor of environmentalists who fear that genetically modified crops could harm humans, animals and plants.

Farmers in Brazil, a leading world exporter of soybeans, sugar, coffee, meat and orange juice, want to take advantage of what they see as the genetic and economic benefits of biotechnology, to remain competitive in world markets.

"We want amendments to reduce bureaucracy for approving GMO (genetically modified) sales, as well as the power of IBAMA," said Joao Sampaio, president of the influential Brazilian Rural Society, referring to the government`s environmental agency.

Sampaio said that the rural sector opposes plans under the current bill for a council of ministers to authorise GMO sales and to give IBAMA power to demand environmental impact studies even if scientists consider them unnecessary.

"This would seem to us to be more ideological than technical," he said.

The government-proposed bill, referred to as the "biosafety law," was written with the goal of regulating a black market in GMO soybeans that is thriving in Brazil`s southern states.

Sampaio said he expected the government this week to appoint a senator to guide the bill through Congress` upper house and that a vote could be taken in March.

MAY TAKE MONTHS

But Senate officials said that discussions could take two to three months as the bill was being treated under "ordinary procedure." More time would be needed for the president`s signature and finalising administrative details.

Brazil`s National Confederation of Agriculture and Livestock (CNA) said the country`s existing National Technical Committee on Biosafety (CTNBio) should have responsibility for both research into and sale of GMO crops.

In the lower house bill, the CTNBio would have final say in GMO studies, but not on the sale.

"Otherwise people won`t invest in GMO research," said CNA Vice President Carlos Sperotto.

Environment Minister Marina Silva, who succeeded in diluting the power of scientists on the CTNBio, has welcomed the bill.

"We`ve reached a satisfactory agreement for the country ... the object was to prevent any weakening of environmental legislation," Silva said.

Under the bill, CTNBio would have to defer to the council of ministers when commercial use of GMOs was in question.

"The bill is highly unfavourable to farmers and must be changed," said Sperotto, who is also president of the Agricultural Federation of Rio Grande do Sul (Farsul), where about 80 percent of the soybean crop is GMO.

Strong criticism also came from farmers in Parana state, Brazil`s No. 2 soy producer.

"The bill as it is would make cultivation of GMO crops more difficult," said Nelson Costa, superintendent of Ocepar, the state`s cooperatives organization, adding that proposals to facilitate GMO research and sales were in the pipeline.

But analysts said that the battle between farmers and environmentalists will have little short-term market impact because the bill would extend an amnesty allowing planting and sale of GMO soy this season and in 2004/05 (Oct/Sept).

"What is more concerning to me is the potential for problems at Paranagua port," said Flavio Franca, chief soy analyst at Safras e Mercados, referring to Brazil`s main soy export port in the southern state of Parana.

"The crop is now starting to arrive and it will only take a little rain to stop ship loaders. Combine that with the testing of each soybean truck before unloading and you have a recipe for truck line-ups longer than in March last year," he added.