ANALYSIS OF INFLUENCE OF UNCERTAINTY IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF RESEARCH ON GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS (GMOS) IN BRAZIL

Abstract

The main objective of the present study is to analyse the influence of legal, marketing, and technological uncertainties on the development of research into Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in Brazil. For this purpose, secondary data were collected from several sources and a qualitative multi-case study was performed in eight Research and Development (R&D) centres. The multi-case study was based on a research protocol and conducted by means of interviews in the period from August to October 2005. It was seen that despite the expansion of production and research with GMOs, legal, marketing, and technological uncertainties have influenced research decisions at research centres. Legal uncertainty, seen in the excessive bureaucracy regarding the approval of requests and in the delay in the regulation of the biosecurity law, has led many R&D centres to cancel or postpone research projects. Marketing uncertainty, seen in the resistance of part of the population to accept the technology, has led to greater caution on the part of R&D centres when taking research decisions. At the same time, technological uncertainty, present in the possibility of conflicts regarding patents and disputes between companies, is identified as having the least impact on research decisions. These uncertainties have led R&D centres to become more attentive to the environmental movements and search new capabilities in order to become more competitive in the market.