Bulgaria: Biotechnology Annual
There has been no change in Bulgarian consumers’ attitude towards biotechnology which remains negative. Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO’s), the Green Party, organic, bee-keeping, and small farms groups also share the same stance. In 2016 to date, the country has continued to follow a negative position on agricultural biotechnology production and has supported an “opt-out” in cultivation. However, Bulgaria continues to import biotech feed and related products to meet the demand of the poultry and livestock industries. Following the initial enthusiasm of growing non-genetically engineered (GE) soybeans in 2015 stimulated by the European Union (EU) subsidies, the production failure has resulted in a disappointment and shift towards other alternative crops in 2016.