Journal or Publishing Institution: Proceedings of IV Biennial International Workshop "Advances in Energy Studies". Unicamp, Campinas, SP, Brazil
Author(s): Pengue, W.A.
Article Type: Report
Record ID: 1861
Abstract: Almost a decade ago (1996) Argentina released the commercial use of transgenic seed. Thereafter, the characteristics of Argentinean Agriculture changed drastically. The “Transgenic Revolution” involves soybean, corn and cotton. The process occurred during the last decade and it is considered an intensification of the “external inputs technology” that is considered as the “input decade”. Soybean production became a relevant crop for Argentina, with a planted surface that rose to 12 100 000 hectares and a production of almost 35 000 000 metric tons. Nowadays, soybean represented more than 50 percent of the whole agricultural exports of the country. During the nineties, for big farmers, roundup-ready soybeans came “to solve” one of the main problems for the farm management: weed control, obtaining a virtual simplification of control and cost reduction in the herbicide price. For companies of pesticides and seeds, a unique opportunity to concentrate and rearrange the business focuses on genetic engineering. The expansion of this model occurred not only in the Pampas but and also in new areas with high biodiversity, opening a new agricultural borders in important ecosystems like Yungas, Great Chaco and the Mesopotamian Forest. Landscape transformation in the rural sector is evident and there is a new critical issue: the appearance of weeds with tolerance to glyphosate. Besides that, new important phenomena appear: nutrients depletion, soil structure degradation, initial desertification and lost of species. Transgenic cropping is a powerful technology, that could produce transformations on environment and society. Some of the consequences are migration, concentration of richness by agribusiness, lost of food diversity and food sovereignty; therefore there is a urgent need of studies on risk assessments integrating ecological and socioeconomic analysis. GMO expansion in Argentina has been facilitated by a very strong pressure of big companies, developed countries involved in trade of GMOO seeds and herbicides, big farmers’ organizations and part of scientific sector of local government, but there is not a real social discussion and the implantation occurs without law obeisance, and it is necessary to complete legislation and regulations. Other South American countries are at this time facing similar pressures during the releasing of transgenic crops. Big infra-structure projects for extensive production of soybean as the “Paraguay-Paraná Hidroway” will pass through floodplain wetlands, a complex set of different preserved ecosystems. The ecological economics approach, under the post-normal science focus, is used to discuss the confirmed impacts of release of GMO soybean technology.
Keywords: No Tillage, Glyphosate, GMO Soybean, Tolerance, Landscape Transformation, Nutrients Depletion
Citation: Pengue, W.A., 2004, June. Transgenic crops in Argentina and its hidden costs. In Proceedings of IV Biennial International Workshop “Advances in Energy Studies”. Unicamp, Campinas, SP, Brazil (pp. 91-101).
