Bogota, Colombia
March 7, 2007
Lisbeth Fog,
SciDev.Net
Colombia has allowed genetically modified (GM) corn to enter its
borders for the first time, and will authorise plantations of
other GM products later in the year.
The Colombian Institute of
Agriculture (ICA) approved one hundred kilograms of GM corn
for import last month, half of which is resistant to a herbicide
and the other half to insects.
Andrés F. Arias, from the Ministry of Agriculture, says growers
from four regions of Colombia — Córdoba, Huila, Sucre and Tolima
— will be allowed to buy the seeds.
Ana Luisa Diaz, of ICA, told SciDev.Net that authorisation has
been given only to regions where the Institute has done
controlled biosafety assessments.
The ICA will conduct follow-up biosafety studies of the seed
from planting until harvest.
At a meeting this week (3 March) Arias also announced approval
of semi-commercial plantations of GM cassava, rice, roses,
sugarcane and coffee later this year, with commercial approval
to be granted in 2008.
But some are concerned about the developments. German Velez,
from the non-governmental organisation Grupo Semillas says, "The
biosafety policies and rules in this country are nonsense."
Velez is concerned that the GM products will cross-pollinate and
therefore alter the natural species of these plants. He pointed
to a case in México, where he says natural corn has been
contaminated by GM corn.
"These technologies have been designed for big agricultural
companies and won’t benefit the poor," he said. However, he
acknowledged that studies have not yet determined GM products'
effect on human health.
Arias defended GM products, saying they increase crop production
per hectare and therefore boost farmers' incomes while reducing
pressure on natural ecosystems.
Osiris Ocando, from Agro-Bio, a non-profit organisation,
applauded the government's decision. He hoped Colombian farmers
could make use of a wide variety of GM corn seeds, as it is
"essential that the Colombian agricultural sector is able to use
modern technology to enhance its competitiveness".
Colombia is one of the 22 countries to have planted GM seeds. Of
its cotton plantations, 41 per cent (22.7 hectares) are the GM
variety Bt. |
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