Browse Data and Analysis

This report describes the agricultural biotechnology sector in Spain, covering production and trade, policy, and marketing aspects. It includes topics related to plant, animal, and microbial biotechnology. Spain is a powerhouse for agricultural biotechnology in the European Union, as the country remains the largest grower of biotech corn and a major consumer of feed ingredients.

Romania, a member of the European Union (EU), maintains a balanced view regarding agricultural biotechnology. Although no biotech crops are cultivated in Romania, farmers continue to view biotechnology as an instrument in managing the agronomic risks and sustaining their competitiveness.

On July 26, 2016, Cote d’Ivoire announced the implementation of the national biosafety law after its adoption by parliament. Although the country is in the early stages of adopting agricultural biotechnology, its biosafety law is the foundation on which the country will manage the approval processes, risk management, containment, and labelling for genetically engineered (GE) products developed domestically or by a third country.

Hungary is one of the strongest opponents of transgenic engineering in the European Union. Maintaining the country’s GE-free status is still a government priority. However, Hungary’s scientific and agricultural organizations and breeding and research institutions are speaking out in support of non-transgenic genome editing. In the case of an enabling legislative environment in the EU, the country would be open to adopting innovative biotechnologies.

Public rejection of genetically engineered (GE) plants in Germany is widespread. There is no commercial GE crop production and practically no food labeled as containing “genetically modified organisms” (“GMO”) on the market. Despite this, Germany is home to world-class companies that develop and supply GE seeds globally from facilities outside the European Union. Germany’s livestock industry is a major consumer of imported GE soybeans for use as animal feed.

The Philippines is a regional biotechnology leader and the first country in the world to approve Golden Rice for commercial propagation. The Bt Eggplant biosafety permit was signed on October 17, 2022, allowing commercial propagation. Planting of Golden Rice has started since its approval in 2021, while Bt corn acceptance has grown with more than 600,000 hectares planted in 2021.

After over ten years, Serbia still has not implemented changes to its Law on Genetically Engineered Organisms (GEOs) which was adopted in 2009. The current law strictly prohibits the importation, production, or commercial growing of genetically engineered crops. The law does not conform to European Union (EU) regulations or the World Trade Organization (WTO) Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement.

This report describes production, trade, research, policy, and marketing issues of genetically engineered (GE) plants, animal products, and microbial biotechnology in Italy. Despite Italy’s opposition to GE products, the Italian Minister of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry Policies, along with leading farmers’ associations (Coldiretti, Confagricoltura, and Cia), agri-food industry players, and scientists have come forward in favor of innovative biotechnologies, such as genome editing.

This year’s report does not contain significant changes from last year’s report. Chile continues allowing the reproduction of seeds under strict control of the Agricultural and Livestock Service (SAG) of the Ministry of Agriculture.

With international funding to develop and implement biosafety regulatory systems drying up in 2019, Caribbean biosafety regulatory efforts remain in idle mode. The region is seeking further funding from the United Nations Environmental Program/Global...

In September 2022, Tanzania’s Ministry of Agriculture directed the Tanzania Agriculture Research Institute (TARI) to identify a research station for trials of genetically engineered (GE) crops. This decision appears to reverse the Government of Tanzania’s (GoT) 2021 ban on all GE crop research trials.

There is no legal impediment to the use of biotechnology in El Salvador. Genetically engineered (GE) corn field trials were successfully completed. Also, the Ministry of Environment completed the regulatory framework for the safe use and commercialization of GE products. A new government administration that took office in June 2019, has shown interest in biotechnology and how it can help advance agricultural competitiveness in El Salvador.