Advances in Agriculture
The Commodification of Agriculture in South America, Evidence from the Last Three Decades
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Magdalena Jensen
This article explores the development of agricultural commodities that originated in South America and traded around the world during the last three decades. Based on production and commercialization data for each South American country, statistical methods are used to analyze the changes in international trade and national crop production; this analysis is done for each country and the whole region. While 8% of world trade originated in South America in 1986, its share had grown to more than 12% by 2016. Brazil maintains the leading role in agricultural exports, and together with Argentina, they encompass more than 70% of the region’s export value. Significant changes in trade composition can be seen in the substantial decline in export value of stimulant crops, and the increase of oil-bearing crops; while the leading commodity group imported by South America has continued to be cereals. Meanwhile, China has increased its key-partner role within the region. The changes in trade patterns have also impacted the land use of each country. Between 1961 and 2017, the total amount of land allocated to growing crops in South America grew from 52 million hectares to almost 139 million hectares. Almost every country in the region experienced an overall growth, the only exceptions being Chile and Venezuela. The categories of crops cultivated in the region are cereals and oil-bearing crops. In the new millennium, oil-bearing crops took a leading role in the region’s production, amounting in the last years to nearly 47% of the total land used for agriculture.
GMO Corn in México - the Moment between Law, Culture, and History
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Ernesto Hernández López
This study describes the significance of legal challenges against releasing GMO corn in México, corn’s center of origin and diversity. Since 2013 in the Colectividad del Maíz dispute, courts have temporarily stopped any planting of GMO corn in México. The research examines the critical moment behind this six-year suspension. In México, maíz (corn) is proudly associated with national and indigenous cultures. Accordingly, controversies over GMOs encompass far more than government procedures, legislation, scientific expertise, and international treaties. For Mexicans, GMOs threaten culture, the most daily of food items, and spiritual links to centuries of history. La Colectividad argues that GMOs threaten biodiversity. GMO transgenes inevitably alter landrace corn, compromising genetic diversity needed to combat climate change and develop plant strains. Foreign seed companies like Bayer-Monsanto use intellectual property rights to challenge the suspension. They need this to commercially sell GMO seeds. In terms of economics, authority, and ideology, this resembles historic challenges over indigenous lands, farmer support, and natural resources in México. Previously, with colonialism, liberalism, and neo-liberalism Mexicans lost control over their food and farms. Identifying economics, authority, and ideology, the presentation contextualizes the current corn fight. México’s President López Obrador promises to ban GMOs but has not passed any relevant legislation nor settled the lawsuit. López Obrador refers to rural economics, aid for campesinos, and sustainable farming in public speeches criticizing GMOs. The review concludes by examining this moment in reference to likely changes in GMO corn regulation. These policies will determine maíz’s sustainability for México and worldwide.
