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 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 .
The law was one of the conditions in the CAFTA negotiations and granted intellectual property rights for the creation of new seeds to those who succeeded in obtaining them.
The Law on Protection of New Plant Varieties, known as "Monsanto Law" was adopted on June 3, 2014 and the Congress of Guatemala decided after pressure from various social sectors to repeal it.
Employers in the agricultural sector are proposing pilot projects in selected areas in order to assess the implications of using such crops.
Jose Adam Aguerri, president of Cosep, told Elnuevodiario.com.ni that "... the (GM) issue today in Nicaragua is prohibited."
"We believe that there will have to be an analysis of this situation, we must evaluate it and balance it, (...) we can go slowly, gradually, with pilot projects in confined zones in order to see how it works, without this meaning it will be adopted".
Growers will have to wait for the next harvest due to there not having been a pronunciation by the Ministry of Health regarding human consumption of the product.
Although the planting and harvesting of this product for animal consumption has been authorized by the Ministry of Agricultural Development, health authorities have not pronounced on it, leaving 25 producers waiting to see if they can start planting 2,400 acres of the genetically modified grain.
In the last 22 years 10,600 hectares of GM crops have been cultivated for biotech research purposes or for seed production.
In Costa Rica genetically modified crops have been planted since 1991, when the national company Los Gansos S. A. applied for permits to import and plant genetically modified soy.
Despite the heated controversy caused by the acquisition of a license by the company DPL seeds to plant 0.9 hectares of GM maize, the story of these crops is not a new issue in the country. An article in Nacion.com reports that "it began 22 years ago and since then 68 licenses have been granted, both for research and for the development of seeds."
The Constitutional Chamber of Costa Rica has accepted for consideration an appeal against the planting of transgenic corn for seed production and export.
While the judges of the Constitutional Court make their ruling on the appeal, the planting of transgenic corn seed for export is paralyzed, a project for which the company DPL Semillas LDT, a subsidiary of Monsanto, was authorized by the National Biosafety Technical Commission.
The company will stop charging for the use of first generation GM soybeans in Brazil during 2012 and 2013.
The multinational has reached an agreement with Brazilian farmers to stop charging royalties for the use of genetically modified seeds, for which it owns the patent.
"The agreement is limited to crops in 2012 and 2013 of the Roundoup Ready first generation soybean, which is resistant to the herbicide Roundoup, the most commonly used in the market, also manufactured by Monsanto." reported PrensaLibre.com
"I was completely wrong to oppose Genetically Modified Organisms" - Mark Lynas, environmental leader.
Faced with the recent approval by the National Biosafety Commission for planting of genetically modified corn, granted to the company DPL Semillas, discussion on the topic has once again opened up.
Juan Carlos Hidalgo, in his blog in Elfinancierocr.com analyzes the issue by citing a study by the World Health Organization which concluded that "GM foods currently available on the international market have undergone assessments risk and are unlikely to present more risks to human health than their conventional counterparts. "
DPL Semillas, a subsidiary of Monsanto, has been authorized to plant three GM maize varieties to produce seeds for export.
The company DPL Semillas, a subsidiary of Monsanto, has received a favorable ruling by the National Biosafety Committee, to plant one or two acres of genetically modified corn.
"The request was made to plant seeds in order to multiply the amount and export them in their entirety.
The use of genetically modified (GM) seeds has led to increased yields.
Martin Zuniga, director for CropLife Central America noted that Honduras is the only country in the region which has these commercial plantations. In the case of Costa Rica it produces products for export only, not for the domestic market.
Siglo21.com.gt reported statements by the executive: "The technology is being adopted relatively quickly, because this way makes farming more efficient, you get higher productivity, lower costs and it frees you up to devote time to other crops."