The area in Chile planted with genetically modified crops – mostly maize, soy and canola – expanded from 24,921 hectares in 2007 to 30,101 hectares in 2008-2009, “without sufficient regulations to protect traditional seeds and the sites of origin.” Tierramérica heard this denunciation from María Isabel Manzur, coordinator of the Network for a Transgenic-Free Chile.

In Chile, only the production of genetically modified (GM) seeds for export is authorized, but, in apparent contradiction, it is legal to import GM products for human and animal consumption.

The Network, which on Nov. 27 held an informational seminar on the topic, is also worried about the introduction of GM alfalfa – banned in 2008 in the United States – and the cultivation of GM pharmaceutical plants.

In 2008, genetic contamination of conventional maize was found in four samples out of a total of 30 randomly selected in the central Chilean region of O'Higgins.