BRAZILIAN FARMERS TO PLANT GMO SOY BEANS

First time leagally

Approximately 73,247 Brazilian farmers signed up to plant GM soybeans in the current season, according to figures announced by Agriculture Minister Roberto Rodrigues on December 19. The current 2003-04 season (October-September) is the first in which Brazilian farmers are allowed to plant GMO soybeans although to do so legally they had to send a signed declaration to the government by December 9. The Agriculture Ministry had anticipated between 50,000 to 100,000 to sign the declaration. Although some declarations may have arrived since the figures were calculated on December 16, the additions would be insignificant. There is almost certainly a large number of producers planting without signing up. Traders and analysts expect more than 20% of the crop to be GMO next season, with planting concentrated in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul, where up to 90% of the crop is thought to be transgenic. (from the American Seed Trade Association's "Electronic News")