CIB launches database for GMO organisms approved in Brazil

By Leonardo Gottems, reporter of AgroPages

The Center of Information on Biotechnology (CIB) launched a complete database this month for genetically-modified organisms approved in Brazil.

 

The compilation organizes the products under categories “For Planting,” “For Human Consumption” and “For Animal Consumption” and yet introduces a comparative with GMOs approved in other countries, such as the United States, Argentina, China, Colombia and the European Union.

 

Among the products listed in the CIB database are 15 types of cotton released in Brazil, as well as one kidney bean, 39 corn varieties, 13 soybean varieties and one eucalyptus variety. The list can be accessed through the link http://cib.org.br/produtos-aprovados/

 

The center has also enabled a database with GMO approved in Brazil for other ends, such as vaccines, micro-organisms, medications and one insect, organized for human or veterinary use. In this table, there is also the date of approval and a brief description of the characteristics of the genetically-modified organism.

 

According to the executive-director of CIB, Adriana Brondani, the mission of the organization is to share information about biotechnology and its products, increasing familiarity with the issue in society. The goal is to compile a complete list with all transgenic products already approved in Brazil and to share knowledge that is useful in people’s everyday life.

 

According to Brondani, there is scope for more precise knowledge to be shared with the public about the subject: “A survey, conducted by the Brazilian Institute of Public Opinion and Statistics (IBOPE), ‘Conecta 2016’ revealed that 80 percent of the people that responded correctly when questioned about what is a transgenic. Nevertheless, none of the people interviewed were able to precisely number genetically-modified crops planted in Brazil. The country today plants genetically-modified soybeans, corn and cotton. In the survey, the first two were cited by 60 percent and 51 percent, respectively. The correct response was mentioned by only 11 percent of the participants, but they also added other products to the list, such as wheat (30 percent) and tomatoes (23 percent), which do not have GMO versions in the market.”

 

Brodani further highlighted that the information, though it was already available (at the CIB website, for instance), does not reach out to people. “For understanding that the information made available by the commission is aimed at legislators and scientists, we resolved to organize it in an easy, intuitive way, and at the same time, make it detailed. Therefore, the consumer can navigate the approved products and figure out which are the characteristics introduced in the product, as well as the technique used to obtain it. By consulting the database, the public will see that no transgenic wheat has been approved in Brazil, for instance.”

 

The executive also pointed out the preponderance of Brazil in the world stage in terms of application of GMOs. “Excepting the United States, Brazil is one of the few countries that have adopted biotechnology to a large extent in the world. We were the first to approve kidney beans and one eucalyptus. We also have vaccines, micro-organisms, medications and even an insect. This highlighted position of Brazil is due to several factors, but, certainly, one of the most important is the approval of the Biosafety Law in 2005, which harmonized the institutional environment and paved the way for our regulatory framework that was internationally recognized as one of the most rigorous and complete in the world. Until the end of 2005, only four products were released for commercialization, while today 112 transgenic events have been approved.