Browse Data and Analysis

Though momentum towards environmental release of the Bt cowpea seems to have slowed down, approval remains inevitable. Dossier on Nitrogen Use Efficient (NUE) rice is ready for submission.

Colombia remains open to biotechnology and other innovative technologies. In 2020, Colombia's GE corn acreage grew 23 percent while GE cotton acreage declined 37 percent.

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.

While still in the early stages for adopting genetically engineered products, the Government of Cote d’Ivoire is putting systems in place to eventually allow GE products onto the market.

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 of the Ministry of Agriculture.

The Government of Indonesia approved regulations for genetically engineered (GE) products, which allows for commercial GE crop cultivation. In July 2021, the Ministry of Agriculture issued a decree approving the release of a GE potato.

In the past year, there have been no major changes in Kazakhstan’s biotechnology policy. Kazakhstan continues to rely on Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) regulations for guidance on biotechnology issues.

Singapore does not have any domestic commercial production of plant biotechnology. The Singapore Food Agency provides a link in its website that lists a total of 57 genetically engineered (GE) crops that have been approved for use as food for direct consumption, ingredients, and further processing into ingredients for other food in the country.

On November 15, 2021, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare/Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) issued draft regulations for Genetically Modified Organisms or Genetically Engineered Organisms, or Living Modified Organisms intended for direct use as food or for processing.

The COVID 19 pandemic in Malaysia saw most government agencies operating at minimum staffing with most working from home throughout 2020 and 2021. This has severely impacted the number of GE events approved by the National Biosafety Board (NBB).

Sri Lanka does not produce genetically engineered (GE) crops or animals. Some GE research, however, occurs at the laboratory level, but that research does not reach commercialization.

India remains undecided on genetically engineered (GE) crops, despite its regulatory authorities clearing on the environmental release of GE eggplant and mustard events. Bt cotton (Bacillus thuringiensis) is the only biotech crop approved for commercial cultivation.