Environmental Injustice and Genetically Modified Soybeans in Argentina

Dr. Amalia Leguizamón will present her new book, Seeds of Power: Environmental Injustice and Genetically Modified Soybeans in Argentina. The book tells the story of Argentina’s agrarian transformation based on the adoption and implementation of genetically modified (GM) soybeans. Soybeans brought economic growth and modernization to the country, yet also created tremendous social and ecological harm. Dr. Leguizamón explores why Argentines largely support GM soy despite the widespread harm it creates. She reveals how agribusiness, the state, and their allies deploy narratives of economic redistribution, scientific expertise, and national identity to create compliance among the most vulnerable rural residents. Thus, GM soy operates as a tool of power to obtain consent, legitimate injustice, and quell dissent in the face of social and environmental violence.