Venezuela

Overview

Area km²: 916,445

Population: 28,887,118

Capital: Caracas

ISO 3166: VE

Population density:
31.5 hab/km²

National flower:
Easter orchid (Cattleya mossiae)

Venezuelan economy is primarily based on the extraction and refinement of petroleum for domestic use and export. The country’s main crops are sugarcane, maize, sorghum, rice, plantains, potato and coffee. Animal production is not highly developed (mainly based in beef cattle, poultry and pork) but the country benefits from a large variety of fishery resources such as tuna, sardines, school shark, trout and crustaceans, among others. Venezuela imports agricultural products (maize, rice, wheat and soybean byproducts) and meat products (beef) while it exports fig, pineapple, avocado, guava, mango, turmeric, and shrimp and fish.

GM Crops

Does the country plant GM crops?

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

Are there local developments?

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

Benefits of GM crops

For the time being, Venezuela does not grow GM crops.

Regulation of GM crops

Brief description of the regulatory framework

Even though Venezuela has appointed a competent authority to authorize GMO-related activities (the Ministry of Popular Power for the Environment), no system to regulate planting and market approval of GMOs is in place. Besides, the Seeds Law prohibits production, import, placement in the market, use, multiplication and introduction of GM seeds into the country.