JH Biotech, a subsidiary of Jianghuai Horticulture seed Co., dedicated to the genetic improvement in seeds of horticultural products started operations in Nandayure, Guanacaste.
From Costa Rica, the company will work on generating hybrid seeds of different varieties of watermelon, melon, pumpkin and chilies. In its laboratories, molecular analysis processes are carried out to verify quality results.
Since October 1, in Guatemala, the Technical Regulation of Biosafety of Living Modified Organisms has been in force, which will allow the importation, commercialization and sowing of modified seeds known as transgenic, for human and animal consumption.
Until now, Guatemala could only import food that was the product of crops with modified seeds. With the entry into force of the regulation, the entry of transgenic seeds for marketing and planting purposes will be authorized.
The National Electrification Institute tenders the supply of different types of seeds for the production of plants in the institution's nurseries.
Guatemala Government Purchase 10287418:
"Seeds of red pine, common cypress, male pine, candelillo pine, ayacahuite pine, ayacahuite pine, matilisguate, palo blanco, common cedar, mahogany and Peten pine are required. Germination will be between 60% and 75%.
The National Institute of Electrification of Guatemala tenders the supply of different types of seeds to produce plants in the greenhouses of the institution.
Guatemala Government Purchase 9180443:
"Seeds of red pine, common cypress, male pine, candelillo pine, ayacahuite pinus, matilisguate, palo blanco, common cedar, mahogany and Peten pine are required. The germination will be between 60% and 75%.
In Costa Rica, the Coffee Institute is offering up to six tons of seed of the Obatá variety, which has proven to be resistant to rust disease.
From a statement issued by the Costa Rican Coffee Institute:
The Coffee Institute of Costa Rica, ICAFE, will be in a position to offer growers, from this time until mid-March, five to six tons of selected and approved quality Obatá seed, which has been proven to have resistance to Rust, precocity and high productivity and excellent cup quality, for the preparation of seedlings.
Lentils from the US, beans from Holland, quinoa from Mexico and chayote from Costa Rica are among the grains and species that can be imported into Panama from now on.
The Panamanian Authority for Food Security has granted permits to import from nine countries grains and species such as flaxseed, chia seeds, and others.
In 2016, regional maize imports totaled $763 million, 26% of which was imported by six companies in Costa Rica, El Salvador and Panama.
Figures from the information system on the the Corn Market in Central America, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the chart"]
Registration procedures have been updated for the commercialization of new seed varieties.
From a statement issued by the Ministry of Agriculture:
An executive decree recently published in La Gaceta, regulates the procedure for the registration of new varieties for commercialization, whose implementation, for 40 years, has been the responsibility of the National Seed Office (ONS by its initials in Spanish), in order to minimize the risks in Production and promote healthy trade among seed trading companies. The Decree is number 40300-MAG, published on April 26, of this year, in La Gaceta No. 78.
The dynamism in agricultural activities and insufficient local supply explain the 40% increase registered between January and October 2016 compared to the same period in 2015.
Between January and October 2016 the import of seeds for sowing grew by 40% compared to the same period in 2015.According to data from the Central Bank of Nicaragua, between January and October 2016, 816.6 tons of seeds for sowing were imported, while in the same period last year the amount was 580.4 tons.
The union of rice growers foresees the need to import certified rice seeds for the sowing period beginning in May 2017.
Excessive rains which affected rice production, mainly in the province of Chiriqui, will force producers to import certified seeds before the start of the agricultural season in May.
The president of the Association of Rice Producers in the province of Chiriqui (Apach), Gabriel Arauz, told Panamaamerica.com.pa that"... 'The rains affected rice planting for certified seeds in the province of Chiriqui, by 60%, which clearly indicates that there will be a shortage of this grain for planting next year, therefore imports will have to be made to meet producers' needs."
The union of pineapple growers in Puerto Rico is demanding a ban on imports of pineapple seed from Costa Rica, arguing that it could be affected by fungus.
According to pineapple producers in Puerto Rico, pineapple seeds from Costa Rica could have fungi which could affect plantations locally."...If one or more of these pests arrive in Puerto Rico it would involve significant economic damage to pineapples producers, since there are no products to combat it registered on the island."
The government has announced the purchase of agricultural packages containing basic grains to be distributed among 400,000 subsistence farmers.
From a statement issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG):
The Minister of Agriculture, Orestes Ortez, announced that the government will soon start buying maize and bean seeds that are to be delivered as part of agricultural parcels, a program of vital importance in ensuring food security for Salvadoran families.
The agricultural chambers in the region are preparing law proposals to be presented in the Central American countries to remove the restrictions on growing GM foods.
Representatives from FECAGRO said the use of agricultural biotechnology allows for improved technology that enables high productivity seeds, reduces agrochemical use, creates more drought-resistant crops that can also be irrigated with salt water and are completely safe for human consumption.
The company which produces and sells genetically modified seed has presented the Panamanian government with a formal request to market their products in the country.
Following the strategy implemented in other countries, Monsanto seeks to prove the absence of adverse effects of GMOs on human and animal consumption, as outlined in a study by the University of California-Davis .