World Grain - August 2020 - 30

The issue is a major one for the National Association
of British and Irish Millers (nabim), which represents the
sector in the UK and the Republic of Ireland. Cross border trade in Ireland is of high importance to the sector.
"Despite the more positive rhetoric about the need
IRUFRPSURPLVHWKHUHVWLOOVHHPWREHVLJQL¿FDQWJDSV
between the sides; there is also a long way to go before
uncertainties around the Northern Ireland Protocol are
resolved," Alex Waugh, director general of nabim, said.
BIOTECHNOLOGY POLICY
An attaché report on biotechnology in the EU, dated
March 5, explains that "the European Union's (EU)
complex and lengthy policy framework for biotechnology creates a challenging environment for research and
limits access to innovative tools for EU farmers."
"The EU produces very few genetically engineered
(GE) crops but it imports large amounts of GE feed," it
said, highlighting a July 2018 decision by the European
Court of justice that made crop varieties developed using "New Breeding Techniques" subject to the same
FRQWURO DV JHQHWLFDOO\ PRGL¿HG YDULHWLHV ³6FLHQWLVWV
and professionals in the agriculture and food sectors
warned that this judgment could harm research and agriculture in the EU and create trade disruptions. As a reVXOWRIWKHVHVWURQJUHDFWLRQVDQGXSRQVSHFL¿FUHTXHVWV
RI VRPH 0HPEHU 6WDWHV WKH &RXQFLO RI WKH (8 KDV
asked the European Commission to propose options to
update the EU policy framework by April 2021.
"Commercial cultivation of GE crops in the EU is
limited to 1% of the EU's total corn area (112,000 hectDUHVRI*(FRUQLQ6SDLQDQG3RUWXJDO7KHVLQJOHYDriety authorized for cultivation is banned in all or parts
RI  0HPEHU 6WDWHV 067KH WKUHDW RI GHVWUXFWLRQ
E\DFWLYLVWVDQGGL൶FXOWPDUNHWLQJFRQGLWLRQVDOVRGLVcourage the cultivation of GE crops. The EU does not
export any GE products, but it imports more than 30

30

million tonnes of soybean products, 10 million to 20
million tonnes of corn products, and 2.5 million to 5
million tonnes of rapeseed products per year, mainly
for feed."
7KH UHSRUW SXWV WKH VKDUH RI JHQHWLFDOO\ PRGL¿HG
products in total imports at 90% to 95% for soybean
production, just over 20% for maize and less than 25%
for rapeseed.
"The EU's main suppliers are Brazil, Argentina, and
WKH8QLWHG6WDWHV´WKHUHSRUWVDLG³7KH8QLWHG6WDWHV
is a major supplier of soybeans and corn processing byproducts to the EU and a relatively minor supplier of
soybean meal and corn. The status quo of very limited
cultivation of GE plants and large imports of GE prodXFWVIRUIHHGLVQRWH[SHFWHGWRFKDQJHVLJQL¿FDQWO\LQ
the medium term."
BIOFUELS
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28 report that the new Renewable Energy Directive II
(RED II), covering the period 2021-2030, agreed upon
in June 2018, sets an overall renewable energy target of
32% by 2030, with a 14% target for transport.
"After a dip in 2016, EU bioethanol production reFRYHUHG´ )$6 H[SODLQHG LQ DQ DQQXDO UHSRUW RQ WKH
sector dated July 15, 2019. "This recovery is supported
mainly by increased domestic consumption. A limiting
factor is the rising prices for corn and wheat, which are
GHWHULRUDWLQJSUR¿WPDUJLQV,QDGGLWLRQWKHGRPHVWLF
ethanol sector will have to compete with expanding imSRUWVPDLQO\IURPWKH8QLWHG6WDWHV´
Chris Lyddon is World Grain's European correspondent.
He may be contacted at: chris.lyddon@ntlworld.com.
We want to hear from you - Send comments and inquiries
to worldgrain@sosland.com. For reprints of WG articles,
e-mail reprints@sosland.com.

August 2020 / World Grain / www.World-Grain.com

Photo courtesy of ADM

ADM Milling
is the largest
milling company
in the UK.
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World Grain - August 2020

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