The Law Library of Congress Global Legal Research Center

Restrictions on Genetically Modified Organisms The Law Library of Congress Global Legal Research Center

Argentina was among the first countries in the world to use genetically modified (GM) crops in agriculture,1 using GM technologies in the production of soybeans, corn, and cotton. Argentina first started using GM technologies in 1996 with the introduction of soybeans tolerant of the herbicide glyphosate.2 Since then, Argentina has increased its production of GM crops to become the third largest grower of biotech crops in the world, after the United States and Brazil.3 GM technologies applied in agriculture have resulted in economic benefits for Argentina, a commodities exporting country, of about US$72.6 billion through 2011. The introduction of GM technologies in agriculture in Argentina has resulted in the creation of an estimated 1.8 million jobs through 2011.4 Of the US$72.6 billion in economic benefit, $65.4 billion is attributable to herbicide-tolerant soybeans. Regarding the distribution of economic benefits from cultivating such soybeans, 72.4% went to farmers, 21.2% to the national government...