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Marketing Patterns of Genetically Modified Food in Dutch Grocery Stores

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June 19, 2024

Ukraine is a major exporter of agricultural crops including corn, wheat, sunflower oil and soy. In the first months after the Russian invasion that started in February 2022, the export of these products from both countries has come to a standstill for a period and global food prices have risen sharply. Given the fact that products from genetically modified (GM) crops are often cheaper because a 'premium price' is charged for non-GM crops, the question arises whether these global price increases led to an increase in the marketing frequency of GM-based food products in Dutch grocery stores.

The report provides a carefully conducted reproducible analysis of the development of GMO-labelled products on Dutch supermarkets in the period between November 2022 and July 2023. The research took place when prices on Dutch store shelves rose sharply while world market prices had already started to decline. Based on the report, it can be concluded that a relatively short period of very strong disruption of the world market and associated high international food price increases and rising domestic food price inflation did not lead to a structural increase of the numbers of GMO-labelled food in Dutch supermarkets.

Research description: Developments surrounding GM food in Dutch grocery stores

Research report: Developments surrounding GM food in Dutch grocery stores

Presentation of research report 'the developments surrounding GM food on Dutch store shelves' to the minister (in Dutch)

Volkskrant article ''Dozens of (legal) GMO food in supermarkets, according to an inventory of 23 thousand labels'' (in Dutch)