Detail

European Union

Oilseeds, oils and meals

Soybeans

01/07/2017

Production

Sector development measures

Launched an EU-wide initiative promoting the production of non-GM soybeans and other legume crops for food and feed. The programme is meant to contribute to the development of more sustainable and resilient agricultural systems, while taking into account growing demand for GM-free foods and possibly curbing the EU\'s dependence on imported soybeans.

In June, thirteen EU member states signed the ‘European Soya Declaration’ (see also MPPU July’17). The declaration supports national and EU-wide initiatives to increase the production of legume crops, notably soybeans, as a contribution to the development of more sustainable and resilient agricultural systems in Europe. Signatories underlined the initiatives’ potential role in boosting the production of non-GM soya in Europe and in reducing the bloc’s dependence on imported soybean. Reacting to the intergovernmental initiative, industry associations representing the EU’s grain, oilseed and feed sector called for a coherent strategy to address the region’s protein deficit. In this regard, the associations pointed out that the EU’s latest proposals on biofuels – viz. the gradual phasing out of crop-based biofuels – could translate into falling EU oilcrop production (in particular rapeseed), hence reducing the availability of protein-rich meals. As to the objective of promoting sustainable and resilient production systems, industry representatives drew attention to progress made by European stakeholders and their overseas partners in responsible sourcing. Finally, with regard to non-GM soya, the industry maintained that the non-GM/GM status was not a criterion for sustainability and recommended that the choice for one or the other quality be left to the market.