[20031017]RS21558_转基因大豆：南美洲的接受和知识产权问题.pdf

Congressional Research Service The Library of CongressCRS Report for CongressReceived through the CRS WebOrder Code RS21558Updated October 17, 2003Genetically Engineered Soybeans:Acceptance and Intellectual Property RightsIssues in South Americanae redactedAnalyst in Agricultural PolicyResources, Science, and IndustrySummaryU.S. soybean growers and trade officials charge that Argentina and BraziltheUnited States two major export competitors in international soybean marketsgain anunfair trade advantage by routinely saving genetically-engineered (GE), Roundup Ready(RR) soybean seeds from the previous harvest (a practice prohibited in the UnitedStates) for planting in subsequent years. These groups also argue that South Americanfarmers pay no royalty fees on the saved seed, unlike U.S. farmers who are subject to atechnology fee when they purchase new seeds each year. The cost saving to SouthAmerican soybean growers on the technology fee alone nets out to about $8 to $9 permetric tona considerable cost advantage over U.S. soybeans in the highly competitiveinternational soybean market. This practice also raises concerns about the intellectualproperty rights (IPR) of Monsanto (the develo