遺伝子操作(有毒？)作物の世界的広がり。
Europe blocks modified crops, but these are expanded into the rest of the world
Los transgénicos arraigan
Europa bloquea los cultivos modificados, pero estos se expanden en el resto del mundo
Miguel Ángel García Vega Madrid 28 ABR 2013 - 00:00 CET
The transgenic root
Europe blocks modified crops, but these are expanded into the rest of the world
Miguel Ángel García Vega Madrid 28 ABR 2013 - 00:00 CET
Words are never innocent. Terminator. That a genetically modified seed is known in the market with this nickname is making opposition to its rejection. More so when we discovered your great quality is to produce a second generation of sterile seeds. This technology has never reached the market, although there since the nineties. But it shows that when we talk about genetically modified crops, the debate leads to a transcendence unthinkable in another industry. "We talk about agriculture or religion?" Questioned an expert. We speak of an industry that, despite the aversion of many, much of the European Union, is sweeping the world as the wave leaves a stone in a pond.
The planet is already 170.3 million hectares with GM crops, 6% more than in 2011. Indeed, the United States (69.5 million hectares), Brazil (36.6), Argentina (23.9) and Canada (11.6) monopolize plantings. But, for the first time, the developing nations cultivate a larger area (52%) than developed (48%).
This change in the agricultural world map alarms many, happy and restless a few almost everyone. First, the all-powerful U.S. food industry, which supports increasing pressure to report on the labels of their products contained GMOs. The supermarket chain Whole Foods Market has announced that it will, however, in 2018. However, the idea could be extended to the entire sector. And this has sparked nerves.
"The industry did everything he could to avoid the label, and is now feeling the consequences: a deep mistrust of her and their products. What are they trying to hide? "Asks Marion Nestle, Professor of Nutrition and Public Health at New York University. This distrust travel mostly to large biotech crop companies: Monsanto, with a reputation for fiercely defend their patents against farmers-, Dupont, Bayer, Syngenta, BASF and DowAgro Sciences. Among the six control the vast majority of patents and genetic research. The result, according to the NGO Grain, is to dominate the world market 60% seed and 76% of agrochemicals.
The developing nations grow and more than developed
This concentration raises problems. "Companies like Monsanto use their virtual monopoly on seeds to raise prices of genetically modified varieties out of the market and many-or all-of the options that are not transgenic" reports Jeffrey M. Smith, director of the Institute for Responsible Technology. Moreover, he says: "When independent scientists find adverse effects are immediately attacked by the interests of biotechnology. His incriminating data are distorted and denials, and often have to face layoffs or loss of money for research. " The biotech deny this proceeding.
Now, to understand where this distrust stems must know that two treatments are marketed genetic modified agriculture. One provides resistance to herbicides (HT, for its acronym in English) and the other protects from insects (Bt). With this change, many crops can withstand high doses of herbicides, allowing farmers to use large amounts without killing the crop. Which has its paradox. "After nearly 20 years of research and billions of euros invested, have only managed two applications. Since then, it seems a biotechnology revolution, 'says Gustavo Duch, coordinator of the Food Sovereignty publication.
Within that awaited revolution, GMOs were called to be a tool to eradicate hunger. However, doubts accumulate. "90% of global GM crops is devoted to rapeseed, corn, soybeans and cotton. And his fate is the textile industry and livestock feed. But it reaches people, "says Henk Hobbelink responsible for Grain.
Nor cause great comfort to know that some of the companies that manufacture herbicides are the same seeds that design that support it. Monsanto produces a potent herbicide Roundup-, while line sells Roundup Ready seeds (soybeans, cotton, rapeseed, sugar, alfalfa and maize) that tolerate chemical. "It's like buying a car that needs special maintenance and the only shop that offers it is owned by the company that makes the car. It will give you the service, but usually at a premium, "says Andreas Boecker, associate professor of Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of Guelph (Canada).
Spain is the tenth in the world in number of hectares
At this point comes in the price variable. Modified seeds are more expensive than natural. Between 20% and 40%, according to some estimates. And the savings for the farmer come from lower spending on pesticides, machinery and labor. "My impression, from Canada," says Andreas Boecker, "is that many farmers see biotech companies as partners to help them improve operating results."
Not everyone understands the same field. When farmers buy some of these seeds, tell in the industry, have signed an agreement that states that they can not save seeds for replanting. Thus, they must buy new seeds every year.
In this situation, the farmer, sooner or later, be faced with the dilemma of transgenic or not. With what this represents. "Our farmers are independent businessmen take their decisions based on what is best for their markets and revenues" reflects Scott Yates, a member of Washington Grain Commission, heavyweight American grain that supports modified crops.
On the other side of the world, the European Union plays a role, at least, disconcerting. Only allows two crops. One type of leg (Amflora, created by BASF) and a kind of corn (Mon 810, designed by Monsanto), which is resistant to the plague of the drill. But given the placet on the import of 45 products. So we handle the paradox that Spanish farmers have to compete against that door open to imports. And this suffering, for example, in the cotton Andalusians and Castilians cornfields where they fit themselves for some crops. "In Spain, the surface increases, and that only leave us grow corn. Otherwise, we would also have cotton, which supports high pest and where pesticides have to act, "said Jose Ramon Diaz, coach of the Young Farmers Association (Asaja).
Although perhaps not so much cause for complaint. "Spain is the tenth country in the world that more land (116 307 hectares) devoted to transgenic corn (Bt), which accounts for 90% of the cultures of this type in Europe," notes John Arenchederra Soledad, director of the Foundation Antama . And that we are going in the opposite direction. For France, Germany, Hungary, Austria, Greece, Bulgaria and Luxembourg prohibit our corn.
Facing obstacles, large biotechnology are going to Latin America in search of business. "Europe is going to lose a brutal competitive advantage compared to other areas of the planet," argues Isabel Garcia, secretary general of the employers Asebio biotechnology.
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