Editing Monsanto (section)

===Argentina===
Argentina approved ''Roundup Ready'' soy in 1996. Between 1996 and 2008 soy production grew from 14 million acres to 42 million acres. The growth was driven by Argentine investors' interest in export markets.<ref name="SoyRepublic">[http://www.towardfreedom.com/32-archives/environment/1600-the-soy-republic-of-argentina The Soy Republic of Argentina]. Towardfreedom.com (September 2, 2009).</ref> The consolidation led to a decrease in production of many staples such as [[milk]], [[rice]], [[maize]], [[potato]]es and [[lentils]]. As of 2004, about 150,000 small farmers had left the countryside; as of 2009, 50% in the Chaco region.<ref name="SoyRepublic" /><ref name="GuardianArgentina">[https://www.theguardian.com/science/2004/apr/16/gm.food GM soya 'miracle' turns sour in Argentina]. ''The Guardian'' (April 16, 2004).</ref><ref>Carlos Reboratti (2010) [https://web.archive.org/web/20130606074701/http://www.geo.puc.cl/html/revista/PDF/RGNG_N45/art05.pdf "A sea of soybean: Consequences of the new agriculture in Argentina (Un mar de soja: La nueva agricultura en Argentina y sus consecuencias)"]. [[Norte Grande Geography Journal]] Revista de geografía Norte Grande 45: 63–76.</ref>

''[[The Guardian]]'' reported that a Monsanto representative had said, "any problems with GM soya were to do with use of the crop as a monoculture, not because it was GM. If you grow any crop to the exclusion of any other you are bound to get problems."<ref name="GuardianArgentina" />

In 2005 and 2006, Monsanto attempted to enforce its patents on soymeal originating in Argentina and shipped to Spain by having Spanish customs officials seize the soymeal shipments. The seizures were part of a larger attempt by Monsanto to put pressure on the Argentinian government to enforce Monsanto's seed patents.<ref>[http://www.cropchoice.com/leadstrygmo013106.html Seeds of conflict take root in debate over Michigan farming bill]. Cropchoice.com, January 31, 2006.</ref>

In 2013 environmentalist groups objected to a Monsanto corn seed conditioning facility in [[Malvinas Argentinas, Córdoba]]. Neighbours objected to the risk of environmental impact. Court rulings supported the project,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lavoz.com.ar/noticias/politica/monsanto-podra-continuar-con-obra-civil-pero-no-con-operativa|title=Monsanto podrá continuar con obra civil pero no con operativa|date=April 23, 2013|publisher=La Voz|language=es}}</ref> but environmentalist groups organised demonstrations and opened an online petition for the subject to be decided in a popular [[referendum]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.argenpress.info/2013/12/monsanto-contamina-el-medio-ambiente-y.html|title=Monsanto contamina el medio ambiente y también la democracia|last=Marín|first=Emiliom|date=December 2, 2013|publisher=Argenpress.info}}</ref> The court rulings stipulated that while construction could continue, the facility could not begin operating until the [[environmental impact report]] required by law had been duly presented.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lavoz.com.ar/politica/ratifican-que-monsanto-podra-continuar-con-la-obra-civil|title=Ratifican que Monsanto podrá continuar con la obra civil|date=October 10, 2013|publisher=La Voz|language=es}}</ref>

In 2016 Monsanto reached an agreement with Argentina's government on soybean seed royalty payments. Monsanto agreed to give the Argentine Seed Institute (Inase) oversight over crops grown from Monsanto's Intacta genetically modified soybean seeds. Before the agreement, Argentine farmers generally avoided royalties by using seeds from previous harvests or purchased from non-registered suppliers. Inase agreed to delegate testing to grain exchanges. About 6 million sample tests were to be conducted annually. Seeds that appear to be GMOs may be tested again using a [[polymerase chain reaction]] test.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-06-14/monsanto-argentina-seed-pact-said-to-become-effective-next-week|title=Monsanto-Argentina Seed Pact Said to Become Effective Next Week|last=Gonzalez|first=Pablo Rosendo|date=2016-06-14|newspaper=Bloomberg.com|access-date=2016-12-15}}</ref>