Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
problems of coordination among economics, health, ecology, and sci-
ence as a lack of communication among different subsystems or as a dif-
ferent ratio of resonance of one subsystem upon others. The questions
that are raised are whether the economic subsystem has more impor-
tance than the other subsystems, regarding GM crop policy making? If
so, why? And does globalization of trade promote the economic sub-
system over that of the political subsystem?
I. Historical Perspective
A.AgriculturalTraditionandInterests
The debate on GM crops is very active and highly inflammable due
to its inherent political nature. Any analysis of a policy that neglects
historical and social factors will result in incomplete conclusions. To
understand current Brazilian policy regarding GM crops, it is therefore
important to know about preceding Brazilian involvement with biotech-
nology, the dichotomy between family agriculture (subsistence agricul-
ture) and industrial agriculture (agribusiness), and many other matters
including the nation's rapid development and dependence on agriculture
and exports.
Over the past decade, Brazil - the world's eleventh largest economy -
has been consolidating its position as an important agro-food producer
and major supplier to international markets. Production agriculture
accounted for 10 percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP)
in 2005, but with the associated supply chain, the agro-food sector (pro-
duction agriculture, processing, and distribution) accounts for nearly 27
percent of total exports and employs 18 million people, equivalent to 37
percent of the labor force. The agro-food sector, which was valued at US
$254 billion in 2005, accounted for 28 percent of the country's GDP.
8
8
“Factors Affecting Brazilian Growth or Are There Limits to Future Growth of Agri-
culture in Brazil?” by Ignez Vidigal Lopes, Mauro de Rezende Lopes, Constanza
