Brazil legalizes genetically modified crops

updated 5:10 p.m. ET March 3, 2005

SAO PAULO, Brazil - Brazilian agribusiness won a key victory after lawmakers cleared the way for rules to permit genetically modified crops and allow Monsanto Co. to sell its popular modified soy seed, the country’s agriculture minister said Thursday.

Brazilian soy farmers, who have used cloned or smuggled versions of the biotechnology company’s Roundup Ready variety for years, will be able to acquire the seeds legally as long as regulators approve them for planting, said the minister, Roberto Rodrigues.

“The important thing here is the legal framework,” he said a day after Brazil’s lower house of Congress overwhelmingly passed the bill hotly contested by environmentalists. “This is essential.”

While the environmental group Greenpeace said the move is unconstitutional and warned that genetically modified crops will harm the environment, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is expected sign it into law later this month.

Monsanto spokeswoman Lori Fisher suggested the company wants develop seeds tailored for Brazilian growing conditions, but would not provide specifics.

“If the biosafety bill is enacted and becomes law, that would be a good sign for investment, not just by Monsanto but by others who are anxious to bring technology innovations to Brazilian farmers,” she said.

Seeds cut costs
Soy production has boomed in Brazil over the last decade, along with the use of the banned GM seeds, which help farmers cut production costs, despite Monsanto’s long-standing complaints it was being robbed of profits by the widespread illicit use of its technology.

Greenpeace said it would lobby Silva to veto the bill, claiming the commission that would approve GM seeds in Brazil lacks representation from environmental authorities. Experts expect GM soy may be the first modified seeds to be approved, followed by other seeds for such crops as wheat or cotton.

But the bill, passed Wednesday in a 352-60 vote, has already been approved by Brazil’s Senate. And Silva has already twice approved temporary decrees approving the harvesting of modified soy even though the crops were technically illegal.

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