Buenos Aires, Argentina
September 5, 2008
USDA/FAS GAIN report AR 8028
Argentina: Annual
biotechnology report
Highlights
Argentina continues to be the
second largest producer of biotech crops (after the United
States), with an area of 19.8 million hectares estimated for the
2007/08 crop season. Pioneer's stacked corn variety HX+LL+RR
received approval from the Argentine Secretariat of Agriculture,
Livestock, Fisheries and Food on May 28. This approval clears
the way for the first triple stacked trait product to be used by
Argentine farmers.
Table of contents
Executive Summary
Biotechnology Trade and Production
Soybeans
Corn
Cotton
Oilseed - Rape
Cloned Cows: Cutting edge technology
Biotechnology Policy
Biosafety Regulatory System
Traceability
Labeling
Stacked events
Coexistence
Intellectual Property Rights – Royalties
Biosafety Law
International Negotiation Fora
Cartagena Biosafety Protocol
Codex Alimentarius and Other Agreements
Ongoing Issues at National Level
Marketing Issues
Public Perception – Consumer’s Attitude
Appendix A: Biotech Crops Approved in Argentina
Appendix B: Resolution 39
Appendix C: Commercial Release Approval Procedure for
Biotech Events in Argentina
Appendix D: Field Test Approval Procedure For Biotech Events
In Argentina
Executive summary
Argentina continues to be
the second largest producer of biotech crops (after the
United States) in the number of hectares planted, with an
area of 19.8 million hectares estimated for the 2007/08 crop
season (soybeans, corn and cotton), an increase of 8 percent
over the past crop season. Almost all soybean area planted
is biotech, with 74% and 90% of corn and cotton area also
biotech. No other Latin American country has embraced
biotech crops
as wholeheartedly as Argentina. Introduction of biotech
soybeans in the late 1990s sparked a rapid expansion of
soybean production, which now surpasses 17 million hectares.
Argentina is now entering in a new stage of biotech
development after approving the use and commercialization of
stacked events.
Argentina continues to be an important ally of the United
States in international issues involving biotechnology and
co-complainant with the United States in the World Trade
Organization challenge to the European Union moratorium on
biotech crop applications. While the disagreement between
Monsanto and the Government of Argentina (GOA) on a royalty
collection system for Roundup Ready (RR) soybeans is still
pending, the Government of Argentina (which created a new
Ministry of Science and Technology) has placed a priority on
stimulating biotech research and innovation.
The current Argentine Seed Law allows producers to
successively use seeds on their own farms. Farmers cannot
sell these seeds. This law is interpreted to mean that
farmers only have to pay royalties on the original purchase
of biotech seeds, but not when they replant seeds that have
been selected and saved. But according to official numbers,
20 perc ent of the total area planted with soybeans in
Argentina is sown with seeds purchased from
authorized dealers; 30 percent with seeds saved by farmers
for their own use, and the remaining 50 percent with seeds
selected and sold illegally.
The National Seed Institute (INASE), in charge of overseeing
seed production and sales and guaranteeing the transparency
of the sector, was closed down in 2000 and reopened by the
Secretariat of Agriculture in 2003. Since then, INASE
officials have been assigned to draft a revamped seed law
which contains a modification to the chapter dedicated to
“self use”. This draft was approved by the former Secretary
of Agriculture last November, and has been passed to the
National Congress for discussion.
The Office of Biotechnology, created in 2004, is the key
biotechnology agency within Secretariat of Agriculture
(SAGPyA) that coordinates all biotech activities and
information.
Full report:
http://www.fas.usda.gov/gainfiles/200807/146295319.pdf
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