Plantas transgênicas no Brasil

Abstract

Genetically modified organisms development has been one of the greatest advances in biotechnology. Through transgenics, it is possible to insert new genes that confer additional characteristics in these organisms, making them more capable of surviving the challenges faced by the environment or infectious agents. Highly productive plants have been developed through genetic engineering to withstand challenges such as drought, infectious vectors, insects, and several other applications. In this study, we investigated, through a review of the scientific literature, the current development scenario of transgenic plants in Brazil, and the benefits that these advances have provided to our country. The articles analyzed were taken from the Pubmed platform, totaling 79 articles. It was possible to observe that the transgenics that are being developed in Brazil have been, for the most part, for pest control in agriculture. Additionally, plants for environmental adaptation and for medical interest substances production have also been developed. Soybeans, sugarcane, and tobacco were the most modified plant species in Brazil, along with beans, cotton, and coffee. The articles analyzed were developed in many Brazil states, and the places with the highest production rates were SP, followed by Brasília, more specifically at Embrapa, in addition to articles with international collaborations. We conclude, then, that the development of transgenic plants is important in Brazil, since a large part of our GDP is generated by agribusiness, the main beneficiary of transgenic plants capabilities.