Non-GMO soybeans are available in growing volumes, despite claims by German poultry producers that supplies are falling, say three trade associations.
1."Enough GMO-free soy available"
2. Rising volumes of GMO-free soy available - industry groups
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1. "Enough GMO-free soy available"
AllAboutFeed, 25 Feb 2014
GMO-free soy from Brazil for the European animal feed industry is available both in sufficient tonnage and quality. This is according to the ProTerra Foundation, ABRANGE and VLOG.
With this statement the three organisations from the Netherlands, Germany, and Brazil collectively refute the press statements of the German Poultry Association (ZDG). Last week, ZDG acknowledged the exit from using non-genetically modified soybean meal in feed by the PHW Group (Wiesenhof), by the Rothkötter Group (Emsland Frischgeflügel) and by other German poultry fatteners based upon the shrinking supply of GMO-free material from Brazil. A few days later, the German Egg Association (BDE) announced the exit from non-GMO feed by some of the egg producers.
According to agricultural analysts from Brazil, the availability of GMO-free soybeans is increasing rapidly, as Ricardo Tatesuzi de Sousa, Managing Director of ABRANGE, the Brazilian Association of Non-GMO Grain Producers explains: "Compared to the previous season, this season the Brazilian farmers produced 10% more non-GM soy. Forecasts for the biggest soy-producing state, Mato Grosso, predict even an increase of 50% more over 2013."
The volume and quality of GMO-free soybean seeds are increasing each year through the successful work of the Soja Livre Program. For the export of the 2014 crop, more and more container shipment will be implemented from March onwards. This means the significant logistical bottlenecks experienced in the Brazilian bulk terminals are bypassed. Exporters are finding that Non-GMO soybeans and soybean meal can be transported to Europe faster in this way – and at a reduced contamination risk by GMO soy.
"It is sheer irony that the ZDG should make such an announcement when many sector initiatives in GMO-free Brazilian soybean production in Brazil are bearing fruit," says Augusto Freire, President of the ProTerra Foundation.
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2. Rising volumes of GMO-free soy available - industry groups
Reporting by Michael Hogan; editing by Jane Baird
Reuters, 24 Feb 2014
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/24/germany-gmo-soybens-idUSL6N0LT2T420140224
German poultry and egg producers said last week they had given up on a promise to consumers to avoid feeding birds with soy containing GMOs ...
Soybeans that are free of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are available in growing volumes, despite claims by German poultry producers that supplies are falling, three associations that support GMO-free crops and trade said.
German poultry and egg producers said last week they had given up on a promise to consumers to avoid feeding birds with soy containing GMOs because of lower supplies of GMO-free soybeans, especially from Brazil.
"According to agricultural analysts from Brazil, the availability of GMO-free soybeans is increasing rapidly," the ProTerra Foundation; the Brazilian association of non-GMO grain producers ABRANGE; and VLOG, a German association for GMO-free food, said in a joint statement on Monday.
"Compared to the previous season, this season Brazilian farmers produced 10 percent more non-GM soy," ABRANGE Managing Director Ricardo Tatesuzi said in the statement. "Forecasts for the biggest soy-producing state, Mato Grosso, predict even an increase of 50 percent more over 2013."
The sea-borne export of Brazil's 2014 soybean crop, which is now being harvested, will involve the transport of an increasing volume of non-GMO soybeans by container instead of in bulk carriers from March 2014, they said.
This will reduce the risk of cross-contamination with remains of GMO crops shipped previously on the same vessel, the three associations said.
Germany is one of the European Union's largest poultry meat producers, producing about 1.5 million tonnes of the total EU output of 11.7 million tonnes in 2013.