France: Agricultural Biotechnology Annual

The French livestock industry depends on imported genetically engineered (GE) feed, especially soybean, rapeseed, and corn. However, France has no commercial production or field trials of GE crops. While most French scientists and farmers are generally supportive of biotechnology, consumer attitudes toward GE are primarily negative. Some French laboratories conduct fundamental GE research, but most projects are not publicized due to the risk of attack by activist groups. The consequences of climate change on the French agriculture are nevertheless opening the door to New Breeding Techniques, genome editing methods supported by the French government.