Brazilian Association proposes mandatory refuge areas

Aiming to verify if the biotechnology offered in Brazil is still efficient against insects, the Association of Corn and Soybean Growers of Mato Grosso (Aprosoja-MT) requested a mandatory refuge area in the country. In a statement approved at an extraordinary assembly general, the association suggests the elaboration of a new Normative Instruction to regulate the practice.

 

The mandatory adoption of refuge areas in all crops that use genetically modified cultivars should be determined according to the area or percentage recommended by biotechnology companies. In order to do that, the statement proposes that the companies present the protocols of research and experiment to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply.

 

If there is a proven case of resistance breach, Aprosoja suggests the suspension of royalties payment for the technology and the exclusion of the product in the market. The association also requires that companies sell non-GM seeds to compose the refuge areas.