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Non-GMO Summit Brazil 2025: Cooperation from soy cultivation to the store counter
The summit took place from 25-26 March 2025 in the capital Brasília. The event brought together producers, certifiers, laboratories, industries, exporters and institutions to promote the sustainable development of the Non-GMO sector.
Dr Michael Südbeck, VLOG Board Member and Head of Central Quality Management at the PHW Group, represented VLOG at the event with an opening message. He reported on the "Ohne Gentechnik" sector in Germany and emphasised the poultry industry's continuous demand for Non-GMO soybean meal. He emphasised the importance of cooperation along the value chain from soy cultivation in Brazil to the shop counter in Germany.
In her online address, Heike Moldenhauer, Secretary General of the European Non-GMO Industry Association (ENGA) in Brussels, provided information on the current status of negotiations on the possible deregulation of so-called new genetic engineering techniques in Europe. She pleaded for the labelling of both old and new genetic engineering products to be retained. This was the only way to maintain transparency and freedom of choice for the economy and consumers.
The importance of Brazilian soybeans for the European Non-GMO market was emphasised by Fernando Nauffal, co-organiser of the event: "In line with European production, which is legally required to be GMO-free, Brazil is uniquely positioned to supply the scale of volumes needed for animal protein production under Non-GMO certification. The Summit plays a key role in connecting science, markets, and sustainability — bridging Brazilian soybean production with European retail."
Johnny Drescher, CEO of Drescher Consulting, pointed out the importance of optimised coordination in the value chain: "Conventional soybean production in Brazil continues to decline, even as national crop volumes grow — largely due to a lack of coordination across the supply chain. Protecting and expanding this segment is essential to preserving the income of Brazilian farmers and processors."