title: Eco-certification and greening the Brazilian soy and corn supply chains.
abstract: Garrettet al's recent letter (2013Environ. Res. Lett.8044055) shows the trade value of Brazil's production of non-genetically modified (GM) crops, and argues that production for this niche market laid the foundation for the expansion of a variety of non-GM and eco-certification systems. We argue that the conditions underlying the development and perpetuation of the non-GM certification systems are transient. The expansion of soy production has dampened the conditions that promoted the dominance of non-GM soy in the region. The state at the heart of the production of conventional soy, Mato Grosso, already has transitioned to almost 90% GM soy in the most recent agricultural season. The continued viability of eco-certification systems depends on strengthening institutions on the demand side, and ensuring farm-level costs on the supply side match price premiums reaching the farm level.
authors.affiliation: Environmental Change Initiative, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA ; Department of Sociology, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA ; Population Studies and Training Center, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA.
authors.forename: Leah K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: VanWey
authors.affiliation: Environmental Change Initiative, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA ; Population Studies and Training Center, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA.
authors.forename: Peter D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Richards