Brazil is going to jail for planting GMO soybeans

Introduction: Brazil torches genetically modified soybeans (Reuters) - Sao Paulo, March 2 (Reuters) - Brazilian institutions burned 21 tons of illegally planted soybeans this week, Brazilian police said on Saturday, marking a white heat in Brazil's fight over whether genetically modified soybeans can be legally sown The destroyed GM soybeans are part of a previously confiscated 55 ton crop, and police arrested at least 15 farmers in two southern states in a recent crackdown on illegal cultivation In October last year, Brazil burned genetically modified soybeans Federal law enforcement agencies accused these farmers from Rio Grande and Parana of illegally owning genetically modified soybeans, but for those who are willing to cooperate and return the genetically modified soybeans, an out of court agreement can be reached Public prosecutor Paul mazotti told reporters he proposed that the court suspend charges against eight farmers in South Rio Grande, all of whom agreed to cooperate in returning genetically modified soybeans He added that Brazilian officials will test the crop after soybean harvesting to determine whether to confiscate it Brazil's seed producers association (abrasem) said recently that more than half of the Soybeans Planted in Rio Grande, Brazil's No 3 soybean producing state, are genetically modified soybeans These soybeans are smuggled illegally, from the border of Argentina adjacent to Brazil, and are Roundup Ready soybeans produced by Monsanto Brazilian prosecutors point out that in the Julio de Castillos region of Rio Grande, South, seven farmers have been accused of owning more than 55 tons of genetically modified soybeans The government has recently stepped up efforts to send special representatives to the main soybean producing areas in the south to fight against the illegal planting of genetically modified soybeans, but at the same time, the government is also vigorously promoting the approval of Congress to legalize the planting of genetically modified soybeans With the government hoping to open its domestic market to multinational companies such as Monsanto, recent protests by opponents have become almost a weekly ritual Last Wednesday, a congressional committee had intended to vote on the approval of genetically modified seeds, but Congress decided to postpone the vote until next week as lawmakers took the lead in protests outside Congress Mariana Pauli, a Greenpeace expert on genetically modified crops, said the group of 50 NGOs planned to hold another protest when it voted in Congress on Wednesday.