The enthusiasm of a few biotech
corporations in the US , Argentina and
Canada to adopt GM crops was not shared by
others around the world. Concerns quickly
surfaced about the potential health,
environmental and socioeconomic impacts of
GM crops.
Opposition to GM crops appeared on every
continent: the European Union adopted a
moratorium on their commercial growing,
bans were established in Asian and Latin
American countries, and many countries in
the South refused GM food aid. In general,
consumers worldwide were reluctant to
embrace GM food.
Pro-biotech countries fought the
opposition by threatening countries that
decided to adopt bans, moratoria or
comprehensive regulations on GM crops with
trade sanctions. Meanwhile, in order to
gain public acceptance of their product,
biotech corporations developed strong
public relations strategies with increasing
propaganda about the benefits of GM
crops.
