The Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of the Ministry of Economy of the Nation reports that the 35th anniversary of the National Advisory Commission on Agricultural Biotechnology (CONABIA) was celebrated. This body was a global pioneer in the development and application of modern biotechnological techniques.
During the event, which brought together more than 90 private representatives, chambers, and public entities, the main regulatory milestones, international agreements and linkages, and authorizations of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) for contained and confined trials and for commercial authorization were reviewed.
In this regard, it is worth noting that Argentina was one of the first countries in the world to authorize biotechnological trials for agricultural use. In what constituted a productive milestone for our country, the first herbicide-resistant genetically modified soybean was authorized in 1996.
Composed of private chambers, academia, and research institutions, the system has already authorized more than 3,000 contained and confined trials of genetically modified plants, microorganisms, and animals.
Regarding commercial authorizations, there are 116 genetically modified plant events for 7 crop species (soybean, corn, wheat, alfalfa, safflower, cotton, and potato) and 24 for genetically modified microorganisms aimed at animal health vaccines and yeasts for bioethanol production.
In this regard, it should be mentioned that more than 30% of the total GMOs authorized in CONABIA's 35 years correspond to the current government administration, which demonstrates the commitment to speed, efficiency, debureaucratization, and, at the same time, respect for biosafety.
CONABIA was recognized as a World Reference Center in Biosafety by FAO in 2014 and renewed in that status 3 times by the same institution.
Likewise, Argentina celebrated several Biosafety Agreements in these 35 years with Brazil and MERCOSUR countries, as well as with food importers such as China and the European Union.
Finally, during the day, a study with comparative data on 30 years of adoption of GM crops in Argentina was presented. It determined that our country increased the planted area for corn and soybean from a little over 10Mha to more than 25Mha currently, with a current production of more than 130Mt in grains and 22Mt in cereals and oilseeds, generating direct benefits such as facilitating the adoption of no-till farming and the possibility of expanding production to regions such as NOA and NEA.
