Let’s start at the beginning, what are transgenic crops? Transgenic crops or genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are living organisms whose seed has been modified through genetic engineering (inserted one or more genes from different species, not limited by genus, family, or even kingdom) to have more resistance to diseases. common and so that transgenic plants are capable of much larger and more constant productions than if traditional seeds are used. A clear example of these transgenic crops is corn or soybeans. Therefore, the objective is to add genes to the seeds that are offered to the farmer so that these seeds have more resistance to diseases, pests, that they produce better yields and that they have a better adaptation to excess water or even to drought as it could be. be the case for wheat. In this way, new varieties are obtained that would otherwise be very difficult to obtain. But like everything that surrounds genetic modification, at first glance it seems bad, we will see some advantages and disadvantages so that each one can judge according to his opinion.
We could indicate that the use of transgenic crops is rather a myth since only 3% of the world’s cultivated agricultural area uses this type of crop, 99% of farmers worldwide do not cultivate them, 17 countries have prohibited the cultivation of transgenics in the European Union and that Spain is the only European country that cultivates transgenics on a considerable scale.
The generation of transgenic seeds is carried out in laboratories since they are works at the cellular level. These cells are modified with new genes. This, in general, has been done by large multinational companies, so the more traditional people have always valued it with caution for the mere fact of its impact on nature. On the other hand, there is a war between companies that generate transgenic seeds and companies from the world of phytosanitary products. The two look after their interests and there they collide since the transgenic seed tries to be a seed that uses phytosanitary treatments as little as possible as it is more resistant to diseases.
It has already rained since the first genetically modified plant was created in 1986, a tobacco plant to which a gene for resistance to the antibiotic Kanamycin was added to its genome. In 1994, the marketing of the first transgenic food, a Flavr Savr-type tomato, was approved in the US. Another example could be soybeans. Its seed has been modified to be more resistant to herbicides. But if there is a star product in this world of transgenic crops, it is corn. Genes have been inserted into the genome of the transgenic maize plant to make it more resistant to insects, especially the famous insect called “drill.” Only one GM crop is currently authorized in the EU, Monsanto’s insecticidal maize known as MON810.
If we focus on Europe and especially on transgenic maize (the cultivation of transgenics has been authorized since 1998 in the EU), it should be noted that Spain is the only country that cultivates it on a large scale (according to estimated data on the area cultivated with transgenics, 95% of transgenic crops in the EU are in Spain). Being the autonomous community of Aragon, followed by Catalonia and Extremadura where it is planted the most. It should also be noted that Castilla y León, being the first corn producer in Spain, does not use transgenic corn. If we jump to Europe, after Spain are Portugal, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Romania, Poland and Germany that years ago planted transgenic corn but have stopped planting it since 2016. The main European corn producer, France, has banned its cultivation. If we expand the data worldwide, the ranking of the 5 countries with transgenic crops would be: USA, Brazil, Argentina, Canada and India.
In Spain there are many municipalities that have already declared themselves free of transgenics and five autonomous communities have remained free of transgenic maize cultivation. In addition, now, with the new European legislation, they have the opportunity to formally declare themselves free of commercial transgenic crops. Therefore, there is a commitment to traditional agriculture and also to organic farming instead of promoting transgenic crops… we will be attentive in the coming years to see how it evolves.
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