Syngenta Brazil Denies Illegal Genetic Seed Tests
Date: 16-Mar-06
Country: BRAZIL
Author: Andrei Khalip
The unit of Swiss Syngenta AG said in a statement it was talking to authorities and taking all legal measures to end the invasion. The act started on Tuesday in Parana state where an international meeting on biodiversity this week is discussing GMO biosecurity and other issues.
"All Syngenta's product development follows rigid security and quality norms, government policies and all the applicable regulations," the company said, citing its licenses from the government commission that authorizes GMO research in Brazil.
La Via Campesina (Peasant Way), an international group allied with Brazil's militant Landless Peasants' Movement, said 1,000 activists invaded Syngenta's Santa Teresa do Oeste farm to "denounce the illegal activity of experimenting with transgenic seeds in the area."
Peasant Way's Web site said an inspection this month by Brazil's environmental agency Ibama found GMO seeds planted closer to the Iguacu National Park than permitted by law.
An Ibama spokesman confirmed that 30 acres (12 hectares) of Syngenta's transgenic soy plantings were about 4 miles (6 km) from the park, while the allowed distance is 6 miles (10 km).
"The area was embargoed, which means they cannot harvest there until further notice. There are fines involved as well," said the spokesman, saying the biosecurity council license did not exempt Syngenta from abiding environmental regulations.
Syngenta did not comment on Ibama's claims, but repeated that it followed all regulations of the National Technical Commission for Biosecurity (CTNBio).
It said the invasion was peaceful, although the activists broke the main gate on Tuesday. It said all employees had left the farm, except for the manager and his assistants.
In 2001, protesters taking part in the World Social Forum in Brazil yanked up more than 5 acres (2 hectares) of genetically modified soybean crops at an experimental farm owned by US biotech giant Monsanto.
Roberto Baggio, a coordinator for the Landless Peasants' Movement, said small farmers and peasants wanted the government to intensify biosecurity checks around the Iguacu park.
"They believe that the only way out is to cut short the experiments definitively and bar Syngenta from occupying the property (near the park)," he said.
Anti-GMO activists blame Syngenta for what they call the largest case of genetic contamination in the world. Syngenta's Bt-10 biotech corn, which was approved for only animal feeds, was accidentally mixed with US grain meant for human consumption between 2001 and 2004.
US authorities subsequently concluded that Bt-10 corn is not a danger to people, animals or plants.
Land invasions are common in Brazil, mainly to demand that the government speed up the distribution of public land for settlement of poor peasants.
Separately in Brazil, the Landless Peasant Movement has been occupying a farm belonging to Suzano pulp and paper company in Sao Paulo state and a few private farms elsewhere.
Last week, activists in southern Rio Grande do Sul state ransacked a tree nursery of Brazilian pulp and paper company Aracruz, destroying part of a research lab. Aracruz estimated losses at $400,000 including 1 million saplings and genetic material that took 15 years to produce.