The economical, environmental and social impacts associated with genetically modifi ed (GM) crops are supported by the increased use of GM species by farmers. This increase in the use of GM species has included a global increase in both the number of hectares with GM crops and the number of countries using this technology. However, the use of GM crops has some drawbacks, due to the environmental risks associated with some of the events and social risks related to intellectual property rights issues and the monopoly associated with this technology. An overview of the current status of the use of GM crops in relation to the production, benefi ts, associated risks, intellectual property rights, legislation and regulatory framework is presented, focusing in the situation of ties crops in Chile.