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.
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"]
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 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.
In the US an increasing number of farmers are replanting with non-GM seeds, while grains prices fall and there is a growing preference for organic products.
At the end of 2014 consumption of non-GM foods such as cereals, salad dressings, eggs and other products increased by 15%, with sales reaching $9.6 billion. By analyzing consumer trends, the US agricultural sector expects this year increases of up to 45% in sales of non-genetically modified maize seeds and 8% in un genetically modified soy.
The identification of the complete sequence of the 22 chromosomes of Arabica coffee can be used as a basis for improving other coffee varieties and their adaptation to climate change.
From a statement issued by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB):
ARMENIA, Colombia - Today the complete sequence of the 22 chromosomes of coffee has been announced which aims to accelerate the process of selecting plants that respond to local climatic conditions and the specific needs of coffee farmers. The information available for public access, was announced to delegates from various coffee producing countries within the framework of the second regional workshop on climate change and coffee growing in the Conference of the Association for Science and Information on Coffee.
Central America's direct competitor in the market is using the TLC it has with the northern country to increase sales of agricultural products, textiles and other manufactured goods.
The reduction in sales of Colombian oil to the United States is forcing the South American country to diversify its exports to the North American market, where positioning has been improved mainly of agricultural products such as fruits and seeds and manufactured goods such as textiles and apparel.
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".
Work is being done on producing better chia seeds in the country in order to meet the demands of international buyers.
Despite being one of the fastest growing crops in Nicaragua, the current shortage of chia seeds could hinder production. For this reason, the Association of Producers and Exporters of Nicaragua (APEN) is working on the production of a new seed that meets the demands of international buyers.
Low production costs make sesame production a highly profitable option for small farmers in Nicaragua.
Added to this is the growing trend of consumers worldwide who prefer healthy foods that are nutritious and have curative qualities such as sesame which can be used for oil extraction and as a food.
"Sesame cultivation does not demand large amounts of pesticides and nutrients, which makes it one of the cheapest in terms of investment costs and makes it accessible to small producers. It requires an investment of $400 per acre ", reported Laprensa.com.ni.
With an investment of $9 million a new plant will be installed to process the seed that has become fashionable among investors and small producers.
The production of chia in Nicaragua has taken a new turn, as the company Acustica (CAC Trading) (dedicated to the purchase and sale of grain or commodities at regional level) will install a processing plant for the seed, which will involve an investment of $9 million and will be opened in Jinotega in 2014.
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
In Costa Rica, businessmen, academics and officials are joining forces to improve seeds of yellow cassava and other tubers and roots for industrial use.
A statement from the Ministry of Agriculture reads:
A project has been launched to reproduce yellow cassava seeds, which are characterized by their quick cooking, appealing taste and color suitable for culinary arts, as well as the development of traditional cassava flour for complementary pig feed. These are just some of the projects already planned by producers of roots and tubers with the recent implementation of Innovation and Transfer of Agricultural Technology (PITTA in Spanish), which integrates public sector entities, private companies, academia and producers.
Spain's contribution seeks to strengthen state policies for basic grain production in Central America.
This project will benefit Panama, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Belice, Costa Rica and Panama.
"According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the main objective of this project is to 'avoid shortages of certified seeds for basic grains", reported Prensalibre.com.