GM soymeal Import
SOPA urges govt not to allow genetically modified soymeal imports from US
This story was originally published at 20:27 IST on 23 October 2025
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NEW DELHI – In order to protect Indian farmers, the Soybean Processors Association of India has, through a letter to Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal, urged the government not to permit imports of genetically modified soymeal from the US. The association also noted that India had sufficient soymeal stocks to meet domestic demand and did not need to resort to imports.
"Refrain from including GM soybean meal under the BTA (Bilateral Trade Agreements)/ import allowances, and safeguard India's non-GMO Soybean cultivation, processing, and export ecosystem," the letter dated Thursday said.
SOPA has pegged India's soymeal supply in 2025-26 (Oct-Sep) at 7.9 million tonnes, with a soymeal output of 7.8 million tonnes, and carry-forward stocks of 108,000 tonnes. India needs 800,000 tonnes of soymeal for direct consumption and 6.2 million tonnes for feed purposes, leaving an exportable surplus of 800,000 tonnes.
"Permitting GM soybean meal imports at this juncture will have devastating consequences for India's agricultural sector," SOPA Chairman Davish Jain said. In addition, imports could depress soybean market prices, which are already below the minimum support price, and hit the soybean processing industry.
Furthermore, imports will weaken the drive for self-sufficiency and undermine India's reputation as a global supplier of high-quality non-genetically modified soybean products, which provides a competitive edge in domestic and international markets. "Allowing GM imports risks eroding this hard-earned leadership and could sabotage years of efforts to attain self-reliance in high-value segments," SOPA said in the letter. End
Reported by Afra Abubacker
Edited by Deepshikha Bhardwaj
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