Study shows decline in US plantings of non-GM soya

US planting and production of non-genetically modified (GM) food-grade soyabean has fallen, according to a new study by the US Soyabean Export Council (USSEC).

The study showed that US farmers planted around 687,965ha of non-GM food-grade soyabeans in 2022, and some 849,839ha of non-GM feed-grade soyabeans. The drop in planted area was due to a range of factors including high commodity soyabean prices, perceived yield lag, premium levels, agronomic challenges and disruptions in shipping and freight costs.

“The results suggest that the lower non-GM soyabean production in the USA is caused by the supply side,” Will McNair, director of oil and soyabean food programmes and USSEC’s deputy director of Northeast Asia, said.

“Purchasers indicated that demand is there and growing but ... farmers have less interest in raising and managing non-GM and other identity preserved soyabeans as there is less economic value in doing so.”

Current non-GM food-grade premiums had not matched commodity prices, the report said. In 2022, soyabean commodity prices increased by about 18%, compared to 13% for non-GM food-grade soyabeans.

The study estimated that contracted planted area accounted for about 88% of production of non-GM soya, used in tofu, soya milk, natto, miso and other markets.

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