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 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.
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 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."
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.