Syngenta Withdraws Two Applications to Grow GM Corn in the EU

After more than a decade of discord and consumer and government opposition, Syngenta AG has withdrawn applications to grow two genetically modified strains of corn in the EU – a most recent move that is indicative that the industry no longer considers the region a viable market.

An email statement from a company spokeswoman confirming the withdrawal explained that the decision was based on “A ‘reevaluation’ of the commercial potential in the European Union for a genetically-engineered corn product.”

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The Swiss seed and pesticide producer still has other pending applications for two other GM products for EU production, and states that it does not expect the withdrawal of the applications to have any negative effect upon sales of its Agrisure corn in Europe.

This move by Syngenta comes long after Monsanto came to the same conclusion. In July 2013, Monsanto announced it was withdrawing the majority of its applications to grow genetically modified crops in the EU stating that it believed that there was no ability for the company to commercialize such products in the region.

Five European countries, led by Spain, grew genetically modified corn last year according to the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications, but the crops accounted for only 0.2% of the world’s farmland planted with biotech crops.

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