A greater demand for resources and products can be aligned with population growth and the development of countries. This trend can be seen by the increasing consumption of soy, the production of which, over the last two decades, has more than doubled. Soy contains amino acids and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) stated that it is “the main source of protein in our global food supply”. Though many associate soy with vegetarian and vegan diets, 85% of the world’s soybeans are processed into soybean meal and oil. This meal and oil is predominantly used to feed livestock, thus it is indirectly ingested by meat and dairy consumers.
SOY IN ARGENTINA
To cater to the growing demand, many countries, particularly in Latin America, adopted soy farming to reap its economic benefits. Argentina, for example, has become one of the main producers and exporters of soybeans in the world. Though farmers in Argentina began producing soy as early as 1970, it was not until the introduction of genetically modified (GM) soy in 1996 that the real boom began. In terms of economic growth, the adoption of GM soy farming in Argentina was a success and was a sign of progress. However, taking profit aside, one must examine the other implications of GM soy farming.
The intense farming of GM soy in Argentina has become a case of environmental injustice. Though there may be some benefits, there is unequal distribution of environmental “goods” and “bads” involved. Extractivism, put simply, is a “process where natural resources are removed from the land or the underground and then put up for sale as commodities on the global market” with little gain for the country of origin, while the industry and companies prosper. Intense extraction of soy in Argentina has led to health, socio-economic, and environmental harms felt by the nation’s inhabitants, particularly impacting rural, Indigenous, and non-human animal groups.
HARMFUL IMPLICATIONS OF ARGENTINA’S GM SOY FARMING
One of the reasons GM soy farming was welcomed in Argentina was because it was herbicide-resistant, which would therefore reduce the need for more toxic agrochemicals. Though this was successful initially, weeds soon grew resistant and the use of glyphosate was introduced and used increasingly. Despite being a commonly used agrochemical, glyphosate has been linked [in Spanish] to cancer, birth deformities, and increased miscarriages. After experiencing such things first-hand, some rural groups do their best to resist soy farming, the companies involved, and their agrochemicals, as they believe that “people have died because of the famous soybean”.
GM soy farming relies on technology, requiring less labour-intensive, traditional farming methods. Subsequently, rural farmers are not qualified for this more specialised work. In this context, the knowledge of farmers has become outdated, and they are finding themselves short of work. In pursuit of jobs, families move to cities and towns, leading to a depopulation in rural areas. Furthermore, rural communities are being displaced because of land grabbing, an act that has risen dramatically along with expanding soy production.
GM soy farming is also detrimental to the environment because although production began in the Pampas it soon outgrew this space. Land grabbing has led to the destruction of forests such the Gran Chaco, the largest dry forest in South America. Almost one-quarter of Gran Chaco disappeared due to deforestation between 1976 and 2011. Deforestation has major implications on the livelihood of Indigenous and rural people and also threatens ecosystems and biodiversity, since all depend on resources from these forests for their well-being.
Though big companies should source their soy as ethically as possible, we should also be aware of the environmental, health, and socio-economic impacts of our diets. This mindfulness could help minimise strain on natural ecosystems.
Poppi is studying for a Master’s in International Studies on Media, Power and Difference at Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona. She has experience working on social documentaries and content writing and her main academic areas of interest are the climate crisis and human rights.