Monitoring the progress of transgenic contamination in the Territory of Borborema state of Paraíba

Abstract

The present work describes the research carried out in the Borborema Territory in the state of Paraíba, which was articulated by the network of community banks for creole seeds in conjunction with guardian families of the seeds of passion. The research was part of the Campaign “I do not plant transgenics to not erase my history”, where samples of Creole corn were collected to check contamination by transgenic proteins was carried out from August to November 2018. The 171 samples collected were submitted to tests with immunochromatographic tapes to detect contaminants. Of these 67, they obtained a positive result, that is, contaminated with transgenic proteins and 74 obtained a negative result, that is, free of transgenics. This high number of contaminated samples generates enormous genetic erosion and consequently the loss of cultural identity, as the seeds are intrinsically linked to the traditions and knowledge that make up the local culture.