Valuating environmental impacts of genetically modified crops - exological and ethical criteria for regulatory decision-making (VERDI)

Brazil is the second largest producer of genetically modified crops (GM crops) and the National Technical Commission on Biosafety (CTNBio) the decision making agency on this matter. The country uses Risk Analysis (RA) and project EIA as tools for biosafety evaluation. This paper aims to review the appropriateness of these tools for evaluating the environmental impacts of GM crops, also considering institutional aspects. An overview of the process of release of GM crops in Brazil along with important operational and institutional aspects is provided. The results indicate that project EIA could be applied to GM crops in specific sites and RA could give support to the evaluation of GM crop itself. Regarding institutional issues, it is concluded that decisions should be made by the environmental bodies, and not by the CTNBio.

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Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops: ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making

Environmental Science & Policy ◽

10.1016/j.envsci.2011.08.006 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

pp. 82-91 ◽

Cited By ~ 83

Author(s):

Olivier Sanvido ◽

Jörg Romeis ◽

Achim Gathmann ◽

Marco Gielkens ◽

Alan Raybould ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Genetically Modified ◽

Genetically Modified Crops ◽

Environmental Risks ◽

Regulatory Decision

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The Environmental Impacts of Genetically Modified Plants: Challenges to Decision Making

American Journal of Agricultural Economics ◽

10.1111/j.0092-5853.2003.00516.x ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 85 (5) ◽

pp. 1107-1111 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Sandra S. Batie

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Environmental Impacts ◽

Genetically Modified ◽

Genetically Modified Plants

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Genetically Modified Crops

10.1093/oso/9780192845610.003.0006 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 112-133

Author(s):

Alasdair R. Young

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Member State ◽

Environmental Impacts ◽

Decision Rule ◽

Genetically Modified ◽

Decision Rules ◽

Genetically Modified Crops ◽

The United States ◽

State Governments ◽

The Eu

This chapter presents the EU’s responses with respect to three closely related policies: the approval of genetically modified (GM) crops for sale and (separately) for cultivation and efforts to lift member state bans on EU-approved GM varieties. These most similar cases differ in outcome; with the EU resuming approvals for sale (a change sufficient to placate Argentina and Canada, but not the United States), but not for cultivation and failing to address member state bans despite very permissive decision rules. In these cases, no tariffs were threatened and there was no exporter mobilization. Commission trade officials did push to accelerate approvals. The Commission, which was more favorably disposed toward biotechnology than most of the member states, was able, with the help of very a permissive decision rule, to overcome opposition to approvals for sale, but not for cultivation, reflecting greater concern among regulators about the environmental impacts of GM cultivation than about the safety of GM varieties. The member state governments also balked at forcing their peers to change their policies. There is little evidence that the WTO’s adverse ruling affected any of the protagonists’ preferences.

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Perceptions of Brazilian small-scale farmers about genetically modified crops

Ambiente & sociedade ◽

10.1590/1809-4422asoc891v1812015en ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

pp. 193-210 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Carla Almeida ◽

Luisa Massarani ◽

Ildeu de Castro Moreira

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Focus Groups ◽

Genetically Modified ◽

Genetically Modified Crops ◽

Free Food ◽

Economic Feasibility ◽

Small Scale ◽

Small Scale Farmers ◽

The Impact ◽

To Receive

The aim of this paper is to investigate the perceptions of small-scale farmers in Brazil towards genetically modified (GM) crops based on a sample of 15 focus groups involving 111 individuals. The analysis of the corpus shows heterogeneous perceptions regarding these crops, shaped by diverse factors, including economic prospects and concerns with the impact on health and the environment. There are many misgivings about these effects among the farmers, who are keen to receive unbiased information on the topic. These uncertainties affect them more as consumers, as most would prefer eating GM-free food, than as producers, as they consider other aspects, especially economic feasibility, when deciding what to grow. Although most farmers believe they should have a voice in decision-making on agricultural issues, few have made concerted efforts to be heard.

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