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