SDPI pushes for GMO soybean import amid ban
The Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), a think tank, has initiated efforts to lift the ban on genetically modified (GMO) soybean imports, a move that involves multi-million-dollar contracts. The SDPI is urging the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) to expedite approval for these imports, despite concerns raised by various ministries.
The SDPI and soybean importers recently held a seminar advocating for the import of GMO soybeans. During the event, the Minister for Food Security questioned why the United Nations (UN) had banned GMO soybean and pointed out that Pakistan's Ministry of Climate Change had also opposed the move. Sources told The Express Tribune that some officials within the climate ministry, SDPI, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have been lobbying for the import, raising eyebrows since the contracts are worth millions of dollars. They also revealed that a proposal to allow soybean imports had been submitted to the former Secretary of the Ministry of Climate Change, but it was rejected.
Official sources indicated that the move is backed by importer lobbies after several GMO soybean shipments were stopped at Pakistani ports, sparking controversy.
Dr Vaqar Ahmed, Joint Executive Director of SDPI, in a letter addressed to the SIFC secretary a copy of which is available with The Express Tribunemade a strong case for allowing GMO soybean imports.
"Following our meeting with the SIFC team, I was asked to submit a position note and specific request for consideration by the SIFC secretary, and relevant departments," wrote Ahmed. He argued that Pakistan's agricultural processing and value-added sectors are facing a crisis, threatening food security, jobs, and international confidence in the country's agricultural sector.
He noted that with soaring food inflation, the availability and price of protein, especially poultry, have reached critical levels. "Currently, 42% of Pakistanis are malnourished. Poultry prices have surged to Rs350 per kilogram, recently exceeding Rs500, compared to just Rs175 in early 2022," he said.
The situation worsened in October 2022 when Pakistan banned the import of transgenic (GMO) raw materials, including soybeans a key feed ingredient for poultry, dairy, and aquaculture. Pakistan primarily imports soybeans from Brazil and the United States for further processing. Soybean oil is a staple in many households, while soybean meal is vital for animal feed.
Although Pakistan updated its biosafety regulatory framework in 2023 to enable soybean imports, full implementation has stalled, leading to severe setbacks in the poultry industry. Industry reports claim that 60% of the sector has contracted or gone bankrupt since the ban was imposed.
The EPA, under the Ministry of Climate Change, is responsible for approving traits such as insect resistance and herbicide tolerance before any import permits are issued. However, no such approvals have been granted, creating a significant bottleneck.
These traits are widely accepted globally, including in the European Union and China, both major importers of soybeans. "Their health and safety records remain flawless for all globally approved traits," Ahmed added.
He contrasted Pakistan's situation with Bangladesh, which has a flourishing soybean processing and poultry industry due to open policies and zero tariffs on soybean imports. He also noted that international organisations like the US Soybean Export Council are willing to assist Pakistan with technical capacity building and facilitate FDI once the import ban is lifted.