Russia allows import of GM-soybeans for export-oriented processing

maintaining the domestic ban on the use of such feeds. According to Russia’s Ministry of Agriculture, the decree permits enterprises to import and process genetically modified soybeans registered for food use, strictly for export purposes. This is expected to help utilize underloaded processing capacities, such as in the Kaliningrad region, where facilities capable of handling over 2 million tons of soybeans annually are currently operating at less than 5% capacity due to limited domestic production. The previous ban on GM-soybean imports negatively affected export volumes. Russia has registered six GM-soybean lines (A5547-127, FG72, A2704-12, MON87708, DAS-44406-6, DAS-81419-2) for food purposes, which can be used for feed production. However, under the country’s food security doctrine, the cultivation, planting, and circulation of GMs remain banned in Russia. Therefore, imported soybeans are intended solely for processing and subsequent export of finished products. Oilseed ...