May 7, 2014

Mimicking the recent statements by the German poultry industry, the Swedish dairy sector is looking to migrate away from the use of non-GM soy due to the costs associated with sourcing the feed ingredient.

The Sweden farming industry has, generally, maintained a non-GM policy for the past few years. However, Hilda Runsten, environmental and climate expert at Swedish dairy trade association, LRF Mjölk, told us dairy producers are questioning the continued reliance on the use of non-GM soy due to increasing cost pressures.

The higher premium associated with non-GM soy is proving a burden for the sector, and, in tandem, there are ever decreasing quantities of the GM-free variant every year, she said.

Her comments echo those of the German poultry farmers association - the ZDG.

In March, the German poultry sector withdrew its 14 year-long pledge to only use non-GM soy in poultry feed.

Katharina Wolfhard, a spokesperson for the ZDG, said the decision was not taken frivolously.

"By now, unfortunately, the voluntary and unique commitment of the German poultry industry in terms of GM free feed is no longer a matter of conviction, but has developed into a question of feasibility," she added.

ZDG also said GM free soy supplies last year were heavily contaminated with conventional soy - some over the permitted tolerance threshold of 0.9% under EU labelling, undermining the legal position of the German poultry sector and putting it at risk of deceiving the consumer.