In the middle of the year, several shipments of transgenic corn and soybean were blocked at Recife harbor in the Northeast of Brazil after receiving accusations from Greenpeace. This time, the courts of San Pablo did not allow the unloading of 46 tons of transgenic corn for 60 poultry lots located in the state of Pernambuco. For the moment, the shipment is under the Department of Justice's custody. This has caused the irritation of poultry farmers who will have to prove that the cereal will be used for feeding their birds. In that sense, the Brazilian National Commission of Biosecurity approved in June the importation of Argentine transgenic corn but only for feeding animals.
Transgenic products are here for progress.
All of these Brazilian decisions of prohibiting importations have forced Argentine exporters to search for new alternatives for their products. Now the circle of conversations has been opened and other Mercosur member countries are getting close to the South African market. With this, the possibility of creating an area of free commerce is being evaluated. Argentina shares similar problems with these countries, such as competition with subsidized economies and large distances. Meanwhile, Asia is still a potential buyer of meat and grains, where negotiations are slow but sustained.