8 sell. Not only did this event destroy the peasant farmers’ crops but also the buyers of the local produce became wary and were less eager to buy the food crops from the farmers. Additionally, genetically modified seeds can drift into other farms, so the smallholders cannot sell their crops as organic. Unintended crop destruction demonstrates the lasting effects that genetically modified crops have on the smaller farmers who rely on cash crops to make a living. The Argentine government should attempt to mitigate the unwanted spread of genetically modified by requiring buffer zones or physical barriers. For example, the government can require planters of genetically modified crops to plant non–genetically modified crops around their farms to slow the spread of genetically modified seeds. The government must create regulations to prevent the smallholders’ organic farms from becoming contaminated. Moderating Deforestation Rates and Biodiversity Loss The 2007 Forest Law was intended to help preserve the forests and regulate deforestation through zoning policies. The authorizing of deforestation activities of national forests is broken down into three categories. In category I (red) areas, deforestation or any human activity is forbidden. Category II (yellow) encompasses forests where sustainable and conservation activities are allowed, like tourism and scientific research, but tearing down the forest and turning it into farms are prohibited. Lastly, in category III (green) forests, deforestation is permitted due to the low conservation value. Tearing down forests in categories I and II results in fines, and landowners in these areas receive compensation, which includes subsidies and decreased taxes to support conservation efforts (Camba Sans et al., 2018). Despite the good intentions embedded in the legislation, the Forest Law is seldom enforced. As a result, there has been rapid depletion of forests. The Forest Law instantiated a zoning policy in the Gran Chaco region, the global hub of deforestation. Over the course of the five-year period succeeding the enactment of the Forest Law, the deforested rate was halved, with 910,000 hectares deforested in 2003–2008, before the enactment of the law, to 450,000 in 2009–2014 (Camba Sans et al., 2018). The Forest Law decreased the deforestation rates in the forbidden areas. However, deforestation increased in areas where deforestation was allowed. The Forest Law mandated that each province denote and implement land use planning maps to indicate different zones for deforestation, corresponding to the categories, as defined by the law noted previously. The purpose of land use planning was to protect the rich biodiversity of Argentina and to appease the concerns of the indigenous and peasant communities and reduce deforestation. Additionally, Argentina developed the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (2016–2020) to promote sustainability, conservation efforts, and awareness regarding the threats to biodiversity. Argentina created the Forest Law and National Biodiversity strategy to appease concerns and raise awareness of deforestation and biodiversity. If the government wants to see significant improvement in the deforestation rates and biodiversity loss, it is integral that it provides the legislation with sufficient funding to put toward the enforcement of the laws. Creating organizations or agencies whose sole responsibility is upholding and enforcing the law can ensure the legislation is carried out as intended. Including researchers and people from NGOs, MOCASE for example, in these agencies can further ensure that the legislation is enforced. Conclusion Argentina must develop strategies to combat the repercussions of the soybean industry. The smallholders in Argentina as well as the global environment are vulnerable to the negative consequences engendered by the expanding soybean industry. Corporations can achieve significantly lower costs working in Argentina due to lower wages and land prices compared to other countries, thus exacerbating the inequality and negative social and economic impacts. While the Argentine economy requires support from foreign countries, the government needs to create legislation to protect these vulnerable groups and the environment. Legislation has not been evolving quickly enough to meet the needs and standards of
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