The widespread adoption of genetically modified crops during the last 10 years has fueled an agricultural revolution in Argentina. To the present day 98 percent of soya in the country is GM and in parts of the Pampa 90 percent of the crop is soya which means that there is no crop rotation at all. The reason why GM soya is favoured over non-GM soya is that it increases yields. Unfortunately the lack of rotation and repeated use of herbicides (Roundup being the most used) led to some inevitable conseguences; there are now many weed species that are known to be resistant to Roundup and there are further species that are developing resistance.The consequence is that farmers are increasing the application rates of glyphosate (an active ingredient present in Roundup herbicide) to kill those weeds and lately more toxic herbicides are being used in addition to Glyphosate. Moreover the use of agrochemicals and chemical fertilisers has increased and the aerial spraying of herbicides has led to ecological contamination and health problems. There are widespread reports of ground water contamination and effects on wildlife throughout the food chain. Concerns are emerging about possible health effects on humans as there's a growing list of cases of birth defects, cancers, and other health problems that locals attribute to the uncontrolled use of agrochemicals. Deforestation is accelerating because GM technology has facilitated growing soya in the virgin pastures and forests in the north of the country( almost 300,000 ha were cleared just in 2010), often land totally unsuited to cropping but with the potential to grow a few crops before the soil gets totally depleted and becomes unfertile. Biodiversity loss, ecosystem damage and destruction of one of our most important carbon sinks are the inevitable conseguences of these practices.

Written by: Elisa Veritti

Related Case File Folder

The issue of transgenic soy in Argentina