Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
5
Evolution of the Regulatory System
forGMCrops in Brazil
Paulo Jos ´eLeite Farias andJuliana Mezzomo Allain
Introduction
No one will deny that scientific research also has risks and engen-
ders dangers. Decisions have to be taken on research projects with-
out knowing in advance what the results will be (if it were otherwise
there would be no point in starting). The dangers of such an enter-
prise are also obvious. They arise from the circumstance that in mod-
ern society knowledge, once it has found its way into the world, can
be neither kept secret nor ignored by other function systems as soon
as it becomes relevant in their context. This is particularly true for the
economy because of the pressure of competition. It also holds for the
political system in the military field, and for the whole area of inter-
ventionandprotectionpolicy. (...)Finally, therearerisks inherent
in scientific research itself, where, for example nuclear energy is in
play or genetic engineering experiments are carried out.
Niklas Luhman
1
Commercial cultivation of genetically modified (GM) crops has ad-
vanced in developing countries and is now widespread.
2
The largest
increase among developing nations has occurred in Brazil, where, until
recently, national policies had restricted GM agriculture. However, since
enactment of a new law in 2005 setting forth procedures for approv-
ing the planting and sale of GM crops, Brazil has become the leading
1
Niklas Luhmann,
Risk: A Sociological Theory, trans.
Rhodes Barrett (New York:
Aldine De Gruyter, 1993) 203.
2
International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA),
http://www.ictsd.org/biores/06-01-20/story3.htm.
113
