High feed costs spur India’s call for genetically modified soy and corn imports

India’s poultry sector is under mounting pressure as escalating feed costs threaten production sustainability. With corn and soybean prices surging, industry leaders are calling for lower tariffs and access to genetically modified (GM) feed grains from the US. As trade talks progress, feed security—not just food security—has become central to the debate. As India moves closer to finalising the trade deal with the US, debates intensify over tariffs on key agricultural products. Poultry farmers in India are urging the authorities to consider opening the market to US imports of genetically modified (GM) products in an effort to bolster the reeling industry’s profitability, Ricky Thaper, Joint Secretary of the Poultry Federation of India, told local news outlet Asian Agribiz. Soaring feed costs remain a strong concern for Indian poultry farmers. In the 2025/2026 marketing year, the industry is projected to see its profitability plunge by, on average, 50% due to a sharp rise in corn ...