The GM Soy Debate

The current debate on Genetically Modified (GM) or Genetically Engineered (GE) soy is polarised and substantive discussion is uncommon. Without compromising the relevance of the pro or contra discussion positions, the GM soy Debate starts from the observation that an agreed knowledge base is a potentially useful starting point for discussion of public policy or political decisions that are made in the interests of society in general.

In the GM soy Debate, we aim to deliver consensus-based recommendations on the risks and benefits of GM soy and how to manage these, based on an agreed knowledge base. It is hoped that this will help companies, policy makers and multi-stakeholder initiatives in their discussions and decision-making on this complex topic.

In June 2009 the GM soy Debate delivered its first outputs:

1. A scientific research report by Plant Research International B.V. at Wageningen University, the Netherlands entitled “GM-related sustainability: agro-ecological impacts, risks and opportunities of soy production in Argentina and Brazil” (this report can be downloaded here).

2. A public report entitled “Agro-ecological impacts of genetically modified soy production in Argentina and Brazil: An analysis of twelve claims about GM soy” (this publication can be downloaded: in English, Español and Português).

A statement by the chair of the GM soy Debate Steering Committee can be downloaded here.

The DPRN report for this process can be downloaded here.

Follow-up to this process

1. The European Union GM Stakeholder Conference: Solidaridad has been invited to share the lessons learned at an EU Conference on socioeconomic aspects of genetic modification. The Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality is organising this conference on behalf of the European Commission. Click here for more information.
    
2. The 8th World Soybean Research Conference: René Smulders presented the research results at the prestigious 7th World Soybean Research Conference in Beijing, China in August 2009.
    
3. The Round Table on Responsible Soy (RTRS): Solidaridad is going to contribute the findings of this debate to the RTRS negotiations and others are expected to do the same.
    
4. Follow-up research: Plant Research International and Aidenvironment are looking for opportunities to extend the process to more socio-economic impacts as well as institutional aspects of GM (soy) cultivation.