In 2004, the US, Canadian and European wheat markets breathed a sigh of relief when Monsanto yielded to pressure and withdrew its glyphosate-tolerant GM wheat from the pipeline.
Predictably, it was just a matter of time before GM wheat popped up again, this time as 'HB4' with combined drought-resistance and tolerance to glufosinate herbicide.
HB4 has now been approved by Argentina: no surprise there, because the country has long been a key route used by the agrichemical industry as a bridgehead to the rest of Latin America for the (legal and illegal) dissemination of its products.
The new GM wheat was not, however, created by any of the Big Biotech multinationals. It is the adopted baby of Bioceres Crop Solutions, a company which describes itself as founded "by a leading group of growers in Argentina, to address the demand for higher crop yields and productivity in sustainable and environmentally-conscious ways". These "growers" are described by GM Watch as fifty agribusinessmen including millionaires involved in pharmaceuticals, soya, and GM promotion. Bioceres is actually a biotechnology platform "identifying and accessing promising technologies from third parties" and enabling the capability "to quickly bring innovations to market" through joint ventures plus the formation and acquisition of companies.
Argentina has already embraced GM soya on a vast scale (currently 80% of its arable land) [1], with significant amounts of GM maize and cotton now grown there too.
The advent of GM wheat is of particular concern because it is a staple food in Argentina, where average wheat consumption is well above that of most countries.
HB4 carries an intrinsic risk to health because of its glufosinate-tolerance. This herbicide is reportedly 15 times more toxic than the glyphosate already causing huge problems in Argentina [2,3]. Glufosinate has been banned in many countries due to its toxicity to the nervous system and developing embryo; it is toxic to many beneficial animals and soil micro-organisms, and can be mobile and persistent in certain environmental conditions.
Bioceres CEO refers to the "substantial yield increases and significant environmental benefits (HB4 wheat) offers", but acknowledges that the biggest hurdle to HB4 wheat is the consumer: "Now we must go out into the world and convince people that this is super good and be able to generate markets for this wheat, which represents an evolutionary leap."
Although a limited acreage of GM wheat is already in the ground*, and Brazil, one of Argentina's biggest customers, has approved HB4 importation as flour, Brazilian millers, bakers and food producers have expressed opposition as have Argentine farmers' associations, grain exchanges and storage operations.
* According to Bioceres, some 136,000 acres of HB4 were planted in 2021 in undisclosed locations.
Is there a justification for the 'evolutionary leap' represented by glufosinate-tolerant, drought-resistant GM wheat?
Contrary to the Bioceres CEO's perception, a chemical which is toxic to some animals and all (non-GM) plants is unlikely to have much in the way of environmental benefits and really doesn't fit in with the Company's 'environmentally conscious' image too well. In a country where many people are already plagued with the toxic effects of glyphosate sprayed on GM soya monocultures, piling on an even worse toxin appears criminal. Moreover, small-farmer support organisation, GRAIN, has pointed out that
Argentina has already embraced GM soya on a vast scale (currently 80% of its arable land) [1], with significant amounts of GM maize and cotton now grown there too.
The advent of GM wheat is of particular concern because it is a staple food in Argentina, where average wheat consumption is well above that of most countries.
HB4 carries an intrinsic risk to health because of its glufosinate-tolerance. This herbicide is reportedly 15 times more toxic than the glyphosate already causing huge problems in Argentina [2,3]. Glufosinate has been banned in many countries due to its toxicity to the nervous system and developing embryo; it is toxic to many beneficial animals and soil micro-organisms, and can be mobile and persistent in certain environmental conditions.
Bioceres CEO refers to the "substantial yield increases and significant environmental benefits (HB4 wheat) offers", but acknowledges that the biggest hurdle to HB4 wheat is the consumer: "Now we must go out into the world and convince people that this is super good and be able to generate markets for this wheat, which represents an evolutionary leap."
Although a limited acreage of GM wheat is already in the ground*, and Brazil, one of Argentina's biggest customers, has approved HB4 importation as flour, Brazilian millers, bakers and food producers have expressed opposition as have Argentine farmers' associations, grain exchanges and storage operations.
* According to Bioceres, some 136,000 acres of HB4 were planted in 2021 in undisclosed locations.
Is there a justification for the 'evolutionary leap' represented by glufosinate-tolerant, drought-resistant GM wheat?
Contrary to the Bioceres CEO's perception, a chemical which is toxic to some animals and all (non-GM) plants is unlikely to have much in the way of environmental benefits and really doesn't fit in with the Company's 'environmentally conscious' image too well. In a country where many people are already plagued with the toxic effects of glyphosate sprayed on GM soya monocultures, piling on an even worse toxin appears criminal. Moreover, small-farmer support organisation, GRAIN, has pointed out that
"Wheat production in (Argentina) does not have significant problems with weeds (as it is a dense crop, a naturally good competitor, and because it grows in winter when the number of weeds is low). Therefore, there is no justification for a glufosinate-ammonium tolerance event."
In September 2020, the Buenos Aires Grain exchange said wheat yields are being cut in half in areas of Argentina which have been devastated by drought. Drought-resistant wheat seems sorely needed. But does it have to be GM?
Consider that wheat breeders in Canada, striving to raise the protein content of their grain found they had inadvertently bred drought-tolerant strains. The reason for their breeding programme was that traditional intensive breeding for yield has left us with crops of low-protein wheat. The new plants have more protein because they're more efficient at acquiring and using water and nutrients; they also have leaves which are more waxy, allowing improved water retention.
Always keep in mind that, at the end of the day, GM foods can only survive if they have customers willing to buy them.
BACKGROUND
[1] ARGENTINA'S MODELO SOJERO - February, 2014
[2] ARGENTINIAN DOCTORS REPORT ON PESTICIDSE EFFECTS - December 2011
[3] WHAT GLYPHOSATE HAS ACHIEVED IN ARGENTINA - June 2018
Sources:
In September 2020, the Buenos Aires Grain exchange said wheat yields are being cut in half in areas of Argentina which have been devastated by drought. Drought-resistant wheat seems sorely needed. But does it have to be GM?
Consider that wheat breeders in Canada, striving to raise the protein content of their grain found they had inadvertently bred drought-tolerant strains. The reason for their breeding programme was that traditional intensive breeding for yield has left us with crops of low-protein wheat. The new plants have more protein because they're more efficient at acquiring and using water and nutrients; they also have leaves which are more waxy, allowing improved water retention.
OUR COMMENT
The success in Canada suggests the way forward is long-term farmer-led breeding programmes supported by the government and de-coupled from commercial interests.Always keep in mind that, at the end of the day, GM foods can only survive if they have customers willing to buy them.
BACKGROUND
[1] ARGENTINA'S MODELO SOJERO - February, 2014
[2] ARGENTINIAN DOCTORS REPORT ON PESTICIDSE EFFECTS - December 2011
[3] WHAT GLYPHOSATE HAS ACHIEVED IN ARGENTINA - June 2018
Sources:
- Hands off our bread! GRAIN, 5.11.20
- Ana Mano and Nayara Figueiredo, Brazil's
Abitrigo says millers won't buy GMO wheat from Argentina, Reuters,
27.09.21
- Ana Mano and Hugh Bronstein, Brazil clears GMO
wheat flour from Argentina in global first, but sales may be slow,
Reuters, 11.11.21
- Please support protesters in Argentina against
the GMO onslaught, GM Watch, 8.11.21
- Approved in Brazil, Argentine GMO wheat moves
forward, GM Watch 14.11.21
- Bioceres Crop Solutions - About Us,
https://investors.biocerescrops.com
- Argentina becomes first country to approve GM
wheat, GM Watch 9.10.21
- Robert Amason, New varieties rescue wheat crop, The Western Producer, 14.09.17
Image of wheat: Creative Commons
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thanks for your comment. All comments are moderated before they are published.