EU Greenlights Four GM Crops—But Only at the Border

In a move that underscores Europe’s enduring paradox on biotechnology, the European Commission officially authorized four genetically modified (GM) crops for import and processing on December 16, 2025—while maintaining its long-standing ban on their cultivation within EU territory. The decision, made after member states failed to reach a qualified majority, relies squarely on scientific assessments from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and reflects the bloc’s pragmatic reliance on GM commodities to feed its livestock and food industries—even as it resists growing them at home.

The approvals include one new authorization and three renewals, all developed by agribiotech giants Corteva Agriscience and Bayer, and all engineered with advanced traits for insect resistance and herbicide tolerance—critical tools for farmers battling evolving pests and resistant weeds in major exporting regions like the Americas.

The standout newcomer is Corteva’s maize DAS-1131, approved for use in food, feed, and industrial processing. This dual-trait variety expresses two proteins: Cry1Da2, a novel Bt toxin highly effective against fall armyworm and other lepidopteran pests, and DGT-28 EPSPS, which confers exceptional tolerance to glyphosate. Crucially, Cry1Da2 acts on a different insect receptor site than older Bt proteins, offering a powerful resistance management tool in integrated pest strategies.

Bayer secured renewals for three established GM crops. Maize MON 87427 features a clever innovation: its CP4 EPSPS protein is suppressed in pollen, enabling glyphosate-induced male sterility—a breakthrough that simplifies hybrid seed production without manual detasseling. Soybean MON 87708 remains a cornerstone of global soy supply chains, engineered to detoxify dicamba herbicide via the DMO enzyme, making it a frontline defense against glyphosate-resistant broadleaf weeds across the Americas. Meanwhile, oilseed rape MON 88302 ensures stable oil yields by expressing CP4 EPSPS throughout the plant’s lifecycle—even during sensitive flowering stages—allowing late-season weed control without compromising seed set.

Critically, none of these crops may be grown commercially in the EU. Their authorization is strictly limited to import, processing, and use in food or feed. Any final product containing more than 0.9% GM content must carry the label: “produced from genetically modified [crop].”

Recognizing ecological sensitivities, the Commission imposed an additional safeguard for MON 88302 oilseed rape: due to the crop’s tiny, easily dispersed seeds, enhanced environmental monitoring will be mandatory in 2026 at EU ports and processing facilities to prevent accidental establishment in wild habitats.

This decision highlights a quiet reality: while European fields remain GM-free by policy, European plates and barns depend heavily on imported GM commodities. Over 70% of the EU’s animal feed contains GM soy and maize—much of it from the very traits now being renewed. The Commission’s action, though technically routine, reaffirms a delicate balance: upholding the precautionary principle domestically while accepting science-based trade realities globally.

As climate pressures and food security concerns mount, the EU’s “import but don’t grow” stance may face renewed scrutiny. For now, however, the message is clear: biotech crops are welcome in Europe—as long as they stay in the silo, not the soil.