Argentina starts planting genetically modified wheat, or it may prompt Brazil to switch to the U.S. and Ukraine for supply

Foreign media news on October 20: Argentina started planting genetically modified wheat , which caused an uproar in neighboring Brazil , which may prompt Brazil to switch to imports of wheat from the United States , Canada and Ukraine
.
Argentina has planted about 55,000 to 60,000 hectares of genetically modified wheat, which can better resist drought
.
Taking into account the average yield of wheat in Argentina, the output of the first batch of genetically modified wheat may reach 200,000 tons
.
Argentina approved the commercialization of genetically modified wheat in the domestic market last year
.
The export department is waiting for Brazil's approval
.
Normally, the wheat purchased by Brazil from Argentina accounts for about 46% of Argentine wheat production
.
The President of the Brazilian Wheat Industry Association (Abitrigo) Rubens Barbosa said that if the Brazilian government allows the import of this wheat from Argentina, Brazilian consumers may react negatively because no other country has approved genetically modified wheat for human consumption.

.
The association urged Brazil's National Biosafety Technical Committee (CTNBio) to reject the application to allow human and animal consumption of genetically modified wheat, and requested the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture to prohibit the entry of genetically modified wheat into Brazil
.
Barbosa said that if Argentina allows the commercialization and export of genetically modified wheat, Brazilian flour processors may stop importing wheat from Argentina
.
For this reason, Abitrigo pressured CTNBio to reject this application
.
CTNBio has postponed the date of deciding whether to approve the commercialization of HB4 genetically modified wheat to November
.
This wheat is produced by Bioceres in Argentina and represented by TMG in Brazil
.
TMG also develops its own genetically modified crops
.
 　　Barbosa said that Argentina is unlikely to promote the export of genetically modified wheat without Brazil's approval, because doing so will lose the Brazilian market
.
There are many other countries in the world that can supply wheat to Brazil, especially the United States, Canada and Ukraine
.
Brazil imported 4 million tons of North American wheat in 2010, due to bad weather in Argentina, which caused a poor wheat harvest
.
Brazil consumes 12-13 million tons of wheat annually, and imports 6-7 million tons per year
.
 　　Marcelo Barker, general manager of a wheat brokerage firm in southern Brazil, said that it is more feasible to import wheat from the northern hemisphere in northeastern Brazil because the geographical location is closer and it is easier to get competitive prices
.
However, the situation is quite different in the main consumption areas, especially in the southeast
.
If the purchase of wheat from Argentina is restricted, the price of wheat and the cost of food may be raised
.
Global wheat stocks have been low this year, and some countries have cut production, which has boosted wheat prices to rise sharply
.
 　　The data submitted by TMG to CTNBio shows that genetically modified wheat can increase wheat yield by 40%
.
However, there are few safety studies on the consumption of genetically modified wheat
.
Although genetically modified soybeans and corn have been grown on a large scale around the world, critics pointed out that these genetically modified crops are mainly used to produce feed, while human consumption is mainly processed foods such as high fructose syrup
.
 　　Even if the Brazilian government bans the import of genetically modified wheat, based on recent experience, it is difficult to keep Brazilian farmers away from such drought-resistant genetically modified seeds
.
In the late 1990s, Argentine farmers began to grow genetically modified soybeans.
At that time, farmers in southern Brazil smuggled genetically modified soybean seeds from Argentina, even though the Brazilian government had not yet approved the cultivation of genetically modified soybeans
.
Some people in the industry worry that this situation may repeat itself, this time with genetically modified wheat
.
GM wheat imported from Brazil to the United States and Canada 　　Argentina has planted about 55,000 to 60,000 hectares of genetically modified wheat, which can better resist drought
.
Taking into account the average yield of wheat in Argentina, the output of the first batch of genetically modified wheat may reach 200,000 tons
.
 　　Argentina approved the commercialization of genetically modified wheat in the domestic market last year
.
The export department is waiting for Brazil's approval
.
Normally, the wheat purchased by Brazil from Argentina accounts for about 46% of Argentine wheat production
.
 　　The President of the Brazilian Wheat Industry Association (Abitrigo) Rubens Barbosa said that if the Brazilian government allows the import of this wheat from Argentina, Brazilian consumers may react negatively because no other country has approved genetically modified wheat for human consumption.

.
The association urged Brazil's National Biosafety Technical Committee (CTNBio) to reject the application to allow human and animal consumption of genetically modified wheat, and requested the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture to prohibit the entry of genetically modified wheat into Brazil
.
 　　Barbosa said that if Argentina allows the commercialization and export of genetically modified wheat, Brazilian flour processors may stop importing wheat from Argentina
.
For this reason, Abitrigo pressured CTNBio to reject this application
.
CTNBio has postponed the date of deciding whether to approve the commercialization of HB4 genetically modified wheat to November
.
This wheat is produced by Bioceres in Argentina and represented by TMG in Brazil
.
TMG also develops its own genetically modified crops
.
 　　Barbosa said that Argentina is unlikely to promote the export of genetically modified wheat without Brazil's approval, because doing so will lose the Brazilian market
.
There are many other countries in the world that can supply wheat to Brazil, especially the United States, Canada and Ukraine
.
Brazil imported 4 million tons of North American wheat in 2010, due to bad weather in Argentina, which caused a poor wheat harvest
.
Brazil consumes 12-13 million tons of wheat annually, and imports 6-7 million tons per year
.
 　　Marcelo Barker, general manager of a wheat brokerage firm in southern Brazil, said that it is more feasible to import wheat from the northern hemisphere in northeastern Brazil because the geographical location is closer and it is easier to get competitive prices
.
However, the situation is quite different in the main consumption areas, especially in the southeast
.
If the purchase of wheat from Argentina is restricted, the price of wheat and the cost of food may be raised
.
Global wheat stocks have been low this year, and some countries have cut production, which has boosted wheat prices to rise sharply
.
 　　The data submitted by TMG to CTNBio shows that genetically modified wheat can increase wheat yield by 40%
.
However, there are few safety studies on the consumption of genetically modified wheat
.
Although genetically modified soybeans and corn have been grown on a large scale around the world, critics pointed out that these genetically modified crops are mainly used to produce feed, while human consumption is mainly processed foods such as high fructose syrup
.
 　　Even if the Brazilian government bans the import of genetically modified wheat, based on recent experience, it is difficult to keep Brazilian farmers away from such drought-resistant genetically modified seeds
.
In the late 1990s, Argentine farmers began to grow genetically modified soybeans.
At that time, farmers in southern Brazil smuggled genetically modified soybean seeds from Argentina, even though the Brazilian government had not yet approved the cultivation of genetically modified soybeans
.
Some people in the industry worry that this situation may repeat itself, this time with genetically modified wheat
.