Honduras

Overview

Area km²: 112,492

Population: 9,587,522

Capital: Tegucigalpa

ISO 3166: HN

Population density:
85.2 hab/km²

National flower:
Lycaste virginalis (Rhyncholaelia digbyana)

The economy of Honduras is mostly based on agriculture, mainly on the production and export of banana, coffee, African oil palm and shrimps. Honduras also cultivates maize, sorghum, beans and rice, pineapple, plantains, tobacco, cantaloupe, citrus fruits and potatoes. The country imports staple crops and the production of maize to partially meet the domestic market demand is concentrated in the departments of Olancho, Paraíso and Santa Bárbara.

GM Crops

1Yes

Does the country plant GM crops?

2002

Since

0.055

Area with GM crops in millions hectares

Percentage of each GM crop

HT: herbicide-tolerant - IR: insect-resistant

Adoption of transgenic crops in the country

MAIZE
HT/IR, HT

HT: herbicide-tolerant - IR: insect-resistant

Trade

International trade of GM crops

Honduras exports products derived from GM crops to 4 countries. For more information about the contribution of GM crops to world trade, from Honduras and the other Latin American countries, visit the Trade section.

Are there local developments?

For the time being, there are no local developments of GM crops in advanced stages.

Benefits of GM crops

Transgenic maize production in Honduras is destined mainly for domestic use, while a fraction is exported to South America as seed. The adoption of transgenic crops resulted in significant economic advantages for the country, benefiting many farmers and their families. Farmers acknowledge an increase in total profits, easier crop management practices and lessened use of agricultural inputs for pest control. The experience of Honduras, a small-sized country with limited resources, in implementing a successful biosafety program that contributes to the adoption of GM crops, can serve as a model and facilitate training for other countries in Central America and Africa.

For further information regarding benefits

• Genetically Modified Maize Impacts in Honduras: Production and Social Issues. Transgenic Research 29:575-586. Macall, D. M.; Trabanino, C. R.; Soto, A. H.; Smyth, S. J. (2020)

• GM crops: global socio-economic and environmental impacts 1996-2018. Brookes and Barfoot (2020a)

• GM crop technology use 1996-2018: farm income and production impacts. Brookes and Barfoot (2020c)

• Environmental impacts of genetically modified (GM) crop use 1996-2018: impacts on pesticide use and carbon emissions. Brookes and Barfoot (2020b)

Regulation of GM crops

1998

Since

Brief description of the regulatory framework

In Honduras, SENASA (National Service for Agrifood Health and Safety) is the agency responsible for the regulation of agrobiotechnology. The CNBB (National Committee for Biotechnology and Biosafety) provides support in the analysis and assessment of GMO safety. Also, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras passed a joint regulation for the commercial exchange and safe use of agrobiotechnology, which became effective in 2019 for Guatemala and Honduras. The countries are developing proceeding manuals for its full application.

• Regulatory framework

• List of GM events approved

GM animals

Does the country produce GM animals?

For the time being, the country does not commercially produce GM animals.

The CNBB approved a transgenic mosquito to reduce mosquito populations and the transmission of diseases such as dengue.

Brief description of the regulatory framework for GM animals

The technical regulation for the commercial exchange and safe use of agricultural biotechnology, approved by El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras in 2019, applies to the reproduction of transgenic animals. It is expected that procedural manuals will be developed for its full application.

Are there local developments?