Brazil on Thursday approved imports of flour from Argentina made from a genetically-modified, drought- and glufosinate -resistant strain of wheat.
It is the first decision of this kind in the world, though it only applies to wheat flour, after Brazilian millers threatened to boycott Argentine grains.
In fact, shipments of the new variety are unlikely anytime soon given uncertainty about broader global acceptance and opposition from a powerful wheatmillers’ lobby.
In add, public sentiment, appears to be against the use of GMO wheat, and Brazilian millers say they are evaluating legal options against the approval.
About 55,000 hectares in Argentina have been planted with the GMO wheat on an experimental basis.
Bioceres Crop Solutions, the company who developed the variety, said it would seek approval from other markets before marketing it commercially.
