Benefits of GM crops

The possibility to plant transgenic crops for research and development purposes has created significant income derived from the services related to these activities. Seed production for export has generated physical exports resulting in export revenues for the country. For the time being, there is no commercial production of GM crops, but it is estimated that if GM crops were approved for commercial production, Chile could become an excellent producer of transgenic sugar beet, maize and alfalfa. In addition, some global developments, such as draught-tolerant wheat and high omega-3 canola, could be of interest for the farmers in southern Chile. In terms of sown area, Chile’s main crop is wheat, and the greatest challenge that Chilean production faces is water availability. Also, omega-3-rich canola oil obtained from GM canola would allow to supply the Chilean salmon industry, thus allowing the country to become independent from the imports of such oil.

 

   

 

   

Para más información sobre los beneficios

 

• Chile as a key enabler country for global plant breeding, agricultural innovation, and biotechnology. Sánchez MA (2020)

• Status of market, regulation and research of genetically modified crops in Chile. Sánchez MA and León G (2016)