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GM soy, the economic dream crop that was introduced to poor Argentinian
farmers seven years ago, was blamed for specific environmental issues
such as destroying soil bacteria and permitting herbicide-resistant
weeds to grow rampant. Soy became the money-producing crop that
covered half of Argentina’s farmable land. After Argentina
underwent financial devastation, soy took over as the main cash
export for supplying food for cattle for Europe and other areas.
Researchers have expressed concerns that a heavy dependence on
one crop for the economy could result in financial ruin.
GM soy helped farmers who were hit hard financially by increasing
production rates by 75 percent over five years to 2002. Despite
its successes, a report revealed that farmers had to use twice as
many herbicides as in conventional systems because of problems with
the crops. Big farmers became so eager to cash in on the success
of soy that they drove 150,000 small farmers off the land, so they
could grow more soy.
Supporters of the crop said that problems surfaced with the crop
as a result of monoculture, not necessarily because it was a GM
crop. Opponents, on the other hand, attributed the problem with
soy to Argentina’s widespread weeds and their natural immunity
to Roundup, which quickly choked fields of soy.
Other opposing groups said that the essential bacteria required
for turning vegetable matter to a manageable form to ensure the
soil being fertilized wasn’t being eliminated by the excess
amounts of Roundup.
Guardian
April 16, 2004
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