Politics of biotechnology in Latin America: the RR soybean Argentina case study

The presentation is based on Argentina and it focuses on biotechnology in agriculture. Argentina today is the second largest exportator of GM crops and it has been the first country in Latin America to establish a professional regulatory framework in the early 1990s. Round Up Ready (RR) soybean crops is specifically analysed because of its importance — more than 60% of the cultivated areas — and its controversial aspect : it is presented at the same time as an elixir for agro-industrial ills and as a techno-economic network increasing the benefits of the global North while dramatically affecting public health and the environment. We suggest to diagnose developments and perceptions of issues related to health, economy, ecological diversity, fertility of soils, regulation and intellectual property. Our methodology favours qualitative data collection and analysis, while using quantitative data when available and relevant