Bolivia maintains ban on GMO crops — but it’s estimated that 40% to 100% of corn, soybeans and cotton are grown from illegal genetically modified seeds

“The request for access to biotechnology has no turning back. The small producer got tired of ‘fighting’ with drought, frost, floods and crop pests. We ask for technology not because we are crazy, we do it to reduce production costs and optimize productivity to guarantee food security and generate surpluses for export. A global food crisis is coming and, as a country, we have to take advantage,” reflected Eliazer Arellano, representative of the producers of Grupo Norte Chané-Peta Grande.

He suggested that the slow pace of approval has led many farmers to smuggle GM seed varieties, mainly soybeans and corn, from neighboring countries. “In a ‘camouflaged’ way, these grains are already produced and consumed in Santa Cruz and Bolivia,” noted the agricultural leader.

[President of the Chamber of Small Producers of the East, Isidoro] Barrientos estimates that of the total area cultivated with soybeans in eastern Santa Cruz, 40% corresponds to Intacta seed varieties; in corn, between 65 and 70%; and in the case of cotton, 100%. “Thats the reality. For this reason, as Cappo, we have requested a law to regulate the zoned use of biotechnology and standardize the events, in these crops, which have passed field trials and are planted in neighboring countries. The country man wants to get ahead, he is not interested in politics or ideology, he wants to be part of the economic reactivation”, he referred.

[Editor’s note: This article has been translated from Spanish and edited for clarity]

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