They define a "road map" to work on the drought-resistant wheat controversy

Exporters and millers today met with representatives of the company Bioceres, developer of transgenic wheat not yet tolerated by drought, to establish a "road map" allowing the company to continue to declare that this technology is authorized.

It should be remembered that last week, the company presented its arguments to the same chairman, Mauricio Macri, on why this event should be allowed. Drought-tolerant wheat is supported by Senasa and the National Biotechnology Commission (Conabia), but not agrifood markets, which fear that buyers such as Brazil, the main one, will accept the product.

The meeting, held at Ciara-CEC Headquarters, marks a first meeting in the chain on this issue, but that does not mean a consensus for the approval of wheat.

"We have started working on a roadmap of what Bioceres should do to approve this technology in Argentina and third markets, which will take several years," he said.
THE NATION Gustavo Idígoras, President of Ciara-CEC.

"This was the first meeting we had with Bioceres to establish a road map," added the head of the entity.

He stressed that the treatment of the subject will be treated as part of a "wide table" with different actors. In fact, he stayed to put together a chart that also includes more members of the wheat chain, such as Argentrigo, producers, stocks, consumer businesses such as pasta.

Diego Cifarelli, president of the Molinera Industry Federation (FAIM), said that what had been agreed was "to work in the chain to unify positions".

However, he noticed
THE NATION: "We are in agreement to support the investment of Bioceres in this discovery, but that the marketing is approved only when the application accepts it". He added: "We are not on the verge of approving it, but we will seek a resolution because it is approved by Conabia and Senasa."

Cifarelli talked about the process started today as a "bridge". In this regard, said: "It is a bridge to travel with the government, because we agree with what the government (agribusiness does not accept at the moment because of the commercial fear), they have understood (from Bioceres) and we will go together. "According to the leader, will also work with the authorities of Brazil, the largest buyer of Argentine wheat.

For his part, Claudio Dunan, Bioceres' Director of Strategy, said: "This was a very positive first meeting, but we do not want to flourish because we want the state and officials to have a first exposure to the subject. table to reach an agreement ".

The agreed consignment note, to which LA NACION has subscribed, includes the following points:

International plane:

– "Launch a table of candidate countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, Russia, where Argentina is proposing this technology and discuss the possibility of achieving common goals not distorting world trade. " Do not forget that there is already a group of allied countries Argentina, could also take advantage of the Forum of Agriculture Ministers of the G20 to debate the issue ".

Indoor market:

– "Establish a dialogue table within the chain that involves producer entities, inventories, factories, exporters and derivative food companies to try to understand the benefits and risks of this technology, as well as the badumptions on which the broadcast and use will take place. "

Regional Market:

– "To work in the area of ​​bilateral relations between Argentina and Brazil with a view to the common adoption of wheat technologies and mutually agreed regulatory frameworks to avoid risks and costly commercial asynchronies. ".

Regulatory option

– "Avoid any reference to condition the approval of this transgenic event to certain buyer markets, as this gives the buyer country decision-making power over the sovereign decisions of Argentina".

– "Avoid creating conditions of segregation and traceability in a standard that is inapplicable in practice and causes irreparable economic damage."

– "Resolution concerning the approval of the Conabia and Senasa opinions and the ratification of the environmental safety and security of HB4 in wheat, without reference to commercial release".