Analysis: EU farmers lose out as consumers oppose GMOs

The European Union has approved only one GMO grain for cultivation – Monsanto's insect-resistant MON810 maize (corn). Fierce opposition has led Germany, Austria, Greece, Hungary, Luxembourg and Bulgaria to ban it.

A moratorium in France, Europe's largest grain exporter, was annulled for legal reasons in November, but the government has said it aims to reinstate the ban before spring sowing starts in some regions at the end of this month.

Farmers and scientists say, however, that GMO maize has shown it can improve output and cut costs.

"It's clear that in continents where they have access to these GMO techniques, they will go faster than in Europe," Fabien Lagarde, director at French oilseeds technical institute Cetiom, said.

"So Europe will lose in terms of competitiveness compared with the rest of the world, notably for maize," he added.