Press Statement of 24 February 2014
GMO-free soy available in sufficient volume and in high quality
An urgently needed rebuttal of claims made by the
German Poultry Association (ZDG) in its press releases of 18 and 21 February 2014
Utrecht - Berlin - São Paulo, 24 February 2014 – Contrary to recent information in the press, GMOfree soy from Brazil for the European animal feed industry is available both in sufficient tonnage and
quality.
Therefore, the ProTerra Foundation, ABRANGE and VLOG collectively refute the press statements of
the German Poultry Association (ZDG).
Last week, ZDG acknowledged the exit from using non-genetically modified soybean meal in feed by
the PHW Group (Wiesenhof), by the Rothkötter Group (Emsland Frischgeflügel) and by other German
poultry fatteners based upon the shrinking supply of GMO-free material from Brazil. A few days later,
the German Egg Association (BDE) announced the exit from Non-GMO feed by some of the egg
producers.
According to agricultural analysts from Brazil, the availability of GMO-free soybeans is increasing
rapidly, as Ricardo Tatesuzi de Sousa, Managing Director of ABRANGE, the Brazilian Association of
Non-GMO Grain Producers explains:
“Compared to the previous season, this season the Brazilian farmers produced 10 percent more nonGM soy. Forecasts for the biggest soy-producing state, Mato Grosso, predict even an increase of 50
percent more over 2013,”
The volume and quality of GMO-free soybean seeds are increasing each year through the successful
work of the Soja Livre Program. For the export of the 2014 crop, more and more container shipment
will be implemented from March onwards. This means the significant logistical bottlenecks
experienced in the Brazilian bulk terminals are bypassed. Exporters are finding that Non-GMO
soybeans and soybean meal can be transported to Europe faster in this way – and at a reduced
contamination risk by GMO soy.
“It is sheer irony that the ZDG should make such an announcement when many sector initiatives in
GMO-free Brazilian soybean production in Brazil are bearing fruit,” says Augusto Freire, President of
the ProTerra Foundation.
ProTerra Foundation
Jan Steenlaan 5 3723 BS Bilthoven
www.proterrafoundation.org
Netherlands
According to a representative survey conducted by Germany’s Emnid poll in January 2014, 75
percent of consumers consider it important to find the label of an “Ohne Gentechnik” (no genetic
engineering) product on a product. “For only 8 cents extra cost per chicken Wiesenhof & Co. could
give consumers what they want – poultry meat labeled ‘Ohne Gentechnik’,” explains Alexander
Hissting, spokesman of VLOG. “If someone claims that GMO-free feeding is not possible, it is because
he doesn’t want it to be possible.”
Background
The ProTerra Foundation was founded in the Netherlands in 2011. It is the owner of the ProTerra®
Standard against which sustainability certification has been conducted since 2006. In the 2013
season, more than 4 million metric tons of soy and soy products were ProTerra certified . ProTerra
supports sustainability certifications and audits for industry in several sectors, for example soy and
sugar cane. www.proterrafoundation.org
VLOG - the German Association Food without Genetic Engineering represents food manufacturers
and retailers as well as sectors upstream and downstream to food production. It advocates food
production without GMOs, engages in consumer education and award licences for the standardized
seal “Ohne GenTechnik” to be used on food products manufactured accordingly. The Association
currently (February 2014) represents 191 members and licensees with combined annual sales of 68
billion euros. www.ohnegentechnik.org/en
ABRANGE - the Brazilian Association of Non-GMO Grain Producers, is a trade association formed in
2008 to promote genetically modified free products, ensuring for consumers and farmers the right to
choose. ABRANGE offers support to the agricultural production chain with technological and
innovative solutions, promoting transparency, quality and safety together with economical, social,
and environmental sustainability. www.abrange.org
ENDS
Attention Editors – the following people are available for comment via Stephanie Whitmore at
Leapfrog PR on + 44 1242 282000 or +44 7877 329653.
 Augusto Freire, President der ProTerra Stiftung; +55 51 9117 8541;
augusto.freire@proterrafoundation.org; Portuguese and English
 Alexander Hissting, Sprecher des VLOG; +49 177 41 42 042;
a.hissting@ohnegentechnik.org; German and English
 Ricardo Tatesuzi de Sousa; Geschäftsführer von ABRANGE; +55 (11) 97666 3739
abrange@abrange.org; Portuguese, English, German
-2 -
Further Notes to Editors – Answers to Specific Claims from ZDG
The original press releases by the ZDG (in German) may be accessed and downloaded here:
www.ohnegentechnik.org/zdg_stellungnahme & www.ohnegentechnik.org/zdg_stellungnahme_eier.
The following information was compiled by three organisations , the ProTerra Foundation, the
German Association Food without Genetic Engineering ( VLOG ) and ABRANGE.
ZDG Claim: The German poultry farmers withdraw their commitment to use GMO-free animal feed.
Correction: The ZDG implies that the announced measures applies to all German poultry farmers.
This is incorrect. Well-known poultry fatteners and egg marketers do not support the declarations of
the ZDG.
For example, one of the largest German poultry fatteners, Plukon Germany (former company name:
Stolle), with annual sales of 540 million euros in 2012, continues to produce chickens reared on
GMO-free feed. Deutsche Frühstücksei , one of Europe's largest egg producers and marketers,
continue to produce their eggs exclusively with feedstuffs that are not genetically modified.
ZDG Claim: The supply of non-GMO soy will be lower in 2014 than in the previous season.
Correction: According to statements by Brazilian industry analysts the supply of non-genetically
modified (Non-GMO) raw material from Brazil in 2014 has expanded nationwide by 10 percent over
the previous year. In the largest soy producing state of Mato Grosso expansion has been as much as
50 percent. This development is due to the general expansion of soybean acreage and to attractive
premia paid to the farmers.
ZDG Claim: In 2014 one of the world's largest suppliers of non-GMO soybean meal plans to offer only
50 percent of the amount from 2013.
Correction: The decision by the crushing company cited has been made entirely independently of the
availability of Non-GMO soy. The Non-GMO soybeans are still produced. In these current months,
new suppliers of raw materials are getting ready to enter into the market of non-genetically modified
raw soy material. A new market player with access to port facilities for bulk and container shipping
has announced that it will compensate for the "lost" exports.
ZDG Claim: The greatly increased cultivation of GMO soy leads more and more often to cases of socalled "cross-contamination" – already on the Brazilian soybean fields.
Correction: Unlike with many other crops, the spread of genetically modified soy by pollen into
conventional soy is unheard of as a problem in agricultural practice. The soybean plant is a selfpollinator. Pollination by neighboring plants - and this is what is meant by " cross-contamination " - is
virtually impossible.
ZDG Claim: Even in the production chain, storage and transport , the risk of contamination has
increased dramatically in recent years.
Correction: Factors leading to the introduction of GMO soy into non-GM supplies in the country of
origin, for example, are impure seed, contaminated harvesting equipment and transport vehicles,
-3 -
and in the processing of soybeans. However, these entry sources of GMO soy are technically
manageable if the necessary care is taken. For well over a decade successful segregation systems
have been in place ensuring the absence of GMO contamination from the field to export or even to
the feed mill in Germany. The market leader for "Non-GMO" certification in Brazil assures raw
material with a maximum of 0.1 % of GMO content; the company has certified as Non-GMO more
than 5 million tons of soy in the current season.
ZDG Claim: The supply shortage of GMO-free soy is also a serious challenge in other countries, e.g.,
in the UK and in Denmark.
Correction: In 2013, the poultry industry in the UK and in Denmark justified their exit from GMO-free
soy also by the poor availability. However, a false claim does not become true by repeating it several
times. The poultry industry in Germany and in other European countries has never been on fire for
GMO-free animal nutrition. It has always only responded to pressure from the major retailers, from
fast food chains and from environmental organizations. The current hope of the poultry industry is
likely that this pressure will not build up again.
ZDG Claim: In Germany, moreover, there is no legal certainty in the interpretation of EC Regulation
No. 1829/2003.
Correction: The quoted EU regulation has been force in April 2004, i.e. for 10 years. There are now
countless explanations and interpretations by the relevant EU authorities and national institutions
that provide complete clarity. In recent years, commercial sources have offered training on this
theme specially for the affected industries. The alleged legal uncertainty is just wishful thinking and
downright absurd. It is possible that the ZDG and some of its members have still not understood the
Regulation. The authors of this correction are more than willing to assist.
-4 -