Strong rejection of the Brazilian milling industry to the use of Argentine transgenic wheat
The powerful Brazilian wheat milling industry, grouped in the Abitrigo chamber, warned that it will oppose the commercialization of wheat and flour from the transgenic cereal approved by Argentina.
Last week, the government conditionally authorized a permission from Brazil for the drought-tolerant transgenic wheat developed by Bioceres. Brazil buys 45% of the wheat that Argentina exports.
On June 22, the CNTbio, a body that understands approvals in the neighboring country, will hold a round of consultations on transgenic wheat. Anticipating that, Abitrigo announced his rejection today.
According to Abitrigo, “in an internal survey carried out among Brazilian millers, 85% were not in favor of using transgenic wheat and 90% said they were willing to stop their purchases of Argentine wheat, should commercial production begin in that country and export to the country “.
In a letter signed by Rubens Barbosa, its CEO, the entity added: “We have not identified any movement in the demand of Brazilian consumers for transgenic solutions; on the contrary, there are statements published by consumer associations with restrictions on the use of these transgenic products. Opinions issued in regulatory events, lawsuits, consumer statements and consumer protection agencies allow us to infer that the Brazilian market is reactive and concerned about the adoption of transgenic foods. “
In this context, Abitrigo said that “it makes public its position against the use of this alternative source of food generation.” He also remarked that “he will oppose the commercialization of both transgenic flour and wheat during the public hearing called.” In addition, he indicated that he will ask the authorities of the neighboring country “not to authorize the marketing of these products in Brazil.”
Last week, 16 chambers of agriculture in Argentina, where bags of cereals, collectors, entities of the Liaison Table, mills and exporters are, held the Ministry of Agriculture responsible for any damage that occurs in the commercial relationship.
They said that the “Ministry of Agriculture must assume the responsibilities of the direct consequences that can generate economic and commercial costs for all wheat producers, as well as for all the links of commercialization and internal and export transformation”.
This position was signed by the grain and trade exchanges of Buenos Aires, Bahía Blanca, Córdoba, Chaco, Entre Ríos, Santa Fe, Rosario, the Chamber of Industrial Millers, the Center for Cereal Exporters, Center of Brokers, Argentine Rural Confederations (CRA ), Coninagro, Agrarian Federation (FAA), Federation of the Milling Industry (FAIM), Argentine Rural Society (SRA) and Federation of Collectors’ Union Centers and Activities.
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