Lisbon, Portugal
August 2, 2012

USDA/FAS GAIN report PT 1204

Report highlights:

Portugal is the second largest producer of GM crops in the EU. The area under GE corn rose by nearly 60 percent to 7,724 ha 2011, based on the mandatory notifications submitted by farmers. The Legislative Assembly of the Azores voted on a proposal in May 2012 from the Regional Government to regulate the cultivation of biotechnology crops in the Region. When signed into law the document will effectively prohibit the commercial cultivation of GE crops on the archipelago.

Executive summary:

Portugal is the second largest producer of GM crops in the EU. The area under GE corn rose by nearly 60 percent to 7,724 ha 2011, based on the mandatory notifications submitted by farmers. This was due to a higher overall corn area, severe corn borer attacks in the previous campaign, and the temporary suspension of new applications for agri-environmental measures in 2010. The Portuguese implementing order that regulates agri-environmental payments in the country establishes that “the amount of support paid to production areas where genetically modified organisms are grown shall be zero”. The Government that was inaugurated on June 21, 2011 includes a newly formed Ministry of Agriculture, Sea, Environment, and Land Planning. The merger of agriculture and environment under the same ministry should mean greater policy coordination at the national and EU level. The Legislative Assembly of the Azores voted on a proposal on May 2012 from the Regional Government to regulate the cultivation of biotechnology crops in the Region. When signed into law the document will effectively prohibit the commercial cultivation of GE crops on the archipelago.

Full report

Website: http://www.fas.usda.gov/

Published: August 8, 2012