Romania will seek the agreement of the European Union in order to cultivate and export genetically modified soybean starting 2012, said the Romanian Minister of Agriculture, Valeriu Tabara. “We make every effort this year and hope to have the agreement of the European Union” said Valeriu Tabara, adding that soybean represents an important step to strengthen Romania’s export capacity.

According to the minister, Romania consumes 500,000 tonnes of soybeans annually, while its production capacity is of 2 million tonnes. The difference of 1.5 million tonnes could be exported. He also said that Romania could export soybeans worldwide, except U.S. and Brazil, known as major producers in this area.

According to the European Union’s law in this area, the possibility to grow genetically modified plants and allow imports from third countries will be achieved at a community level, in the voting procedure being involved all 27 EU member states.

The Romanian Minister of Agriculture said that Romania lost almost EUR 1 billion annually by not cultivating genetically modified soybean.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com