A polarised debate has evolved around genetically modified (GM) soy production. Triggered by increasing world demand for vegetable proteins and biofuels, soy production has been expanding rapidly during the past decade, especially in North and South America. A large and increasing part of this production is genetically modified. Soy is currently one of the most widespread GM crops, together with corn, cotton and rice.
The GM Soy Debate: Unbiased knowledge and constructive dialogue
Plant Research International (PRI) at Wageningen University and Research Centre (WUR) and AidEnvironment initiated the GM Soy Debate in response to the highly polarised debate on the pros and cons of GM soy production
Research outcomes: Neither peril nor panacea
Together with the University of Buenos Aires and EMBRAPA [link: http://www.embrapa.br/], the Brazilian parastatal company for agronomic research, , PRI conducted an extensive literature study on the agro-ecological impacts, risks and opportunities of GM soy production in Argentina and Brazil. The research was intended to clarify and validate stakeholders' claims regarding the agro-ecological risks and opportunities of GM soy in Argentina and Brazil.
Stakeholder dialogue: GM soy, food safety and ethics
The GM Soy Debate organised an international Stakeholder Conference on 9 December 2008. One of the objectives of the conference was to share the preliminary results of the PRI study with stakeholders. This provided an excellent base for discussions among the participants.
Follow-up
This DPRN process extended its message beyond the Netherlands and led to additional activities beyond the DPRN period.
