Brazil utilises more GM crops than ever before
(28 January 2011) A study conducted by the
specialist agricultural consulting company Celeres indicates that the majority
of soybeans and maize in Brazil comes from genetically modified (GM) seeds. The
company also notes a national tendency towards increase.
The Celeres company monitored the adoption of
biotechnology for the second time. In the crop season of 2010 to 2011, more than
three-quarters of the land used in Brazilian soybean agriculture was planted
with GM seeds. With an area of 18.1 million hectares, these  herbicide-tolerant soybeans already represent 76.2 per cent of the total area. Based on information
to date, the monitoring company predicts an increase up to 23.7 million hectares
in the next planting.
Maize crops have increased in area by 45.5 per cent since
the last season and are estimated to occupy 1.22 million hectares, representing
57.2 per cent of the total area. Three hundred and twenty-five hectares thereof
contain GM varieties that are pest-resistant, herbicide-tolerant, or a
combination of the two. Known as the ‘stacking’ of GM qualities, such
combination is being used for the first time in a regular crop season.
According to Anderson Galvao, Director of Celeres, delays
in the releasing of herbicide-tolerant GM traits limited access to the
technology in the summer season and can be expected to increase during winter
cultivation.
See also on GMO Compass:
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