Argentina is the latest leader in the world in producing soybean. The majority of the Argentinean crops are composed of GMOs (genetically modified organisms). More than 200 million litres of herbicides contain poisons like glyphosate. On the other hand, there is an alarming increase of cancer rates, birth defects as well as other health problems in the country. A number of people in the country, including several medical professionals, believe that GMOs, biotech giants and pesticides are to be blamed.

Sofia Gatica raised three of her children in one of the Córdoba suburbs, which is surrounded with soy field. Ms Gatica's oldest son was admitted to the hospital in the mid-90s when he was just four years old. The sudden illness left him paralysed temporarily. However, the medical professionals could not tell her what had gone wrong with him. Ms Gatica further informs that more number of children was born with deformities.

There were children born with more than five fingers and deformed kidneys. They were also born with no anus and no skull bone or jawbone. More number of parents started developing cancer, she said. When Ms Gatica had a fourth child, a daughter; the infant died of kidney failure only after three days.

Monsanto, on the contrary, denied every claim which blames their GMOs for the increasing health concerns. There have been dozens of examples of the illegality and misuse of pesticides. Drinking water and the soil are seen affected by pesticides. Eighty per cent of children in one of the affected areas were found to have pesticides in their blood, according to a recent survey. Studies reveal that even a low concentrated version of pesticides (like glyphosate) is enough to harm human cells and cause killer diseases like cancer, Exposing The Truth reports.

Dr Andrés Carrasco from the University of Buenos Aires has, meanwhile, proved that birth defects among vertebrates can be caused by herbicide glyphosate. "In most cases, the fetus dies before birth because of its deformities," Dr Carrasco said in an interview with DW. "The inhalation or the introduction of these agrotoxins kills the embryo."