Lantmännen
Lantmännen is an agricultural cooperative and Northern Europe’s leader in agriculture, machinery, bioenergy and food products.
GMO/genetic engineering
Genetic engineering presents opportunities for development of crops and cultivation techniques. Using genetic engineering techniques, crops can be instilled with properties such as resistance to pesticides, resistance to insects, or both. At the same time, there are potential risks, and many consumers have a sceptical attitude towards genetically modified foods.
The risks discussed include uncertainty about long-term effects of new varieties and reduced biodiversity due to the strong dominance of a small number of crop varieties. Another criticism concerns agriculture's dependence on the chemical industry and the large plant breeding companies.
For certain crops, a large proportion of global cultivation is currently based on genetically modified varieties. This is true of soy, for example.
Non-GMO soy
Lantmännen has a positive view of the potential that genetic engineering in plant breeding can contribute towards a sustainable society. We are also aware that there are risks and that some consumers have concerns.
Lantmännen's food products do not contain any raw materials from genetically modified crops. We also ensure availability of non-GMO feed. Our requirement for non-GMO soy from our soy suppliers is based on the requirements set by industries, and we use rigorous quality control programmes to ensure compliance. GMO soy was previously in demand from some customers, but with effect from 2011 GMO soy is no longer sold to farmers. We ensure that soy is GMO-free by signing agreements on non-GMO soy and analysing the received product.