EU Faces Possible Collapse in GM Soy Imports in 2009/2010

The European Union would be facing a collapse in GM soy imports from the United States, Argentina, and Brazil if the three countries adopt the new Roundup Ready 2 soybean by 2009 to 2010. This is the likely effect of "asynchronous authorization" such as in cases of GM maize approved in the USA but not in the EU.

In the worst-case scenario, the EU would be experiencing an import deficit of 32 million tons, of which only approximately 20 percent could be substituted by increased local production. Due to the importance of soy as feed in the farming of pigs and poultry, extreme changes in the EU meat sector are predicted in an internal DG Agriculture report. Production of pork and of poultry may fall by as much as 34.7 percent and 43.9 percent, respectively, while beef production is expected to remain nearly unchanged at 97.9 percent of present levels.

The news article is available at http://www.gmo-compass.org/eng/news/messages/200706.docu.html#127.