Fighting GM Crops in Argentina and Brazil: Global Constraints, National Opportunities?

When one looks at current figures, in which Brazil and Argentina are, respectively, the second and third world's biggest producers of genetically modified crops (GM crops of GMOs), the social movement struggles that surrounded and keep revolving around the issue are difficult to visualize. However, the adoption of the technology has been disputed for almost two decades. A major difference was the capacity of Brazilian movements to jeopardize the interests of the pro-GMOs coalition: they had to wait for a decade until soybean production had been converted to GM seeds, what took four years in Argentina. This created a widespread recognition of a controversy over GM crops in Brazil, what never happened in Argentina.  

There are many other factors differentiating the cases, but also similarities between them. Frames were similar; because movements participate in transnational advocacy networks, where frames circulate. Different from many conflicts in the Global North against GMOs, in these countries there were not only issue-oriented groups, but also identity politics, as peasant movements were important actors. The Via Campesina frame "food sovereignty" is very prominent.

A major difference lies in the organizational bases and forms for resisting GM crops. The great power of the Brazilian movements lies in the building of a sustained campaign among environmental, consumer rights, agro-ecology, human rights and peasants groups. A coalition was formed with dissident scientists, allies in state agencies and politicians. They engaged in legal mobilization and developed a strong communication front as early as 1999, with a weekly newsletter and a blog. None of these factors are found in the Argentinean case.

The belief that by acting together there was a possibility of affecting social change makes a crucial difference: Argentinean activists perceive more global constraints to their fight, whereas Brazilians perceive more national opportunities to theirs.