GM Soy: Sustainable? Responsible?




The report comes at a time when GM firms are trying to win approval to cultivate GM glyphosate-tolerant crops in Europe. It concludes that on the basis of the scientific evidence and other countries’ experience with the crop, GM soy cannot be considered sustainable or responsible.

This report not only brings together the scientific evidence for the health and environmental damage caused by GM soy, but systematically documents that in GM soy-producing areas of South America, a human tragedy is unfolding on a massive scale, with escalating rates of birth defects and cancer linked to heavy spraying of glyphosate and other chemicals.


A growing resistance movement to the GM soy farming model has sprung up in South America. Doctors, lawyers, scientists, citizens and farmers are calling for an alternative, more sustainable agricultural model, as well as land rights reform.

Many of the concerns raised by these groups are confirmed by the scientific evidence collected in “GM Soy: Sustainable? Responsible?”

GM Soy: Sustainable? Responsible?

By Michael Antoniou, Paulo Brack, Andrés Carrasco, John Fagan, Mohamed Habib, Paulo Kageyama, Carlo Leifert, Rubens Onofre Nodari, and Walter Pengue. Published by GLS Bank and ARGE (the Austrian industry association for GM-free food) September 2010.

Full report and summary available in five languages:

Chinese translation (with commentary by the volunteer translator):


0 #3 Academics Review 2013-08-07 14:57
Here is a critical review of these claims:
+1 #2 Claire Robinson1 2013-06-28 09:44
Michael, with proper segregation plans in place from seed to table, it is possible to grow non-GM soybeans with very little GM contamination. The Brazilian soy producers have managed it well, though there is intense pressure on them to cease even thinking about segregating and just to grow GM or GM-contaminated . There are companies that specialise in creating and maintaining these segregated supply chains.
+1 #1 Michael Salling 2013-06-28 02:03
I'm asking everyone (well, haven't gone to the source yet) how it is that Costco can find enough ORGANIC soybeans for its Kirkland brand Organic Soy Milk proudly advertised as being "grown and processed" in the U.S. Where are all those soybeans being grown and how is it that they are not being contaminated by the ubiquitous GM variety. Please email me about this.

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