Wedoany.com Report-Dec.19, Argentina approved a record number of genetically modified (GM) plants in late 2024 and 2025, according to a report released by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) on 8 December.

Thirteen new genetically engineered (GE) events received commercial approval during this period: one cotton, three soyabeans, and nine corn varieties. The USDA noted that processing times for approvals have improved, resulting in a record number of commercial clearances for GM plants and a higher volume of assessments involving micro-organisms.

Argentina ranks as the world's third-largest grower of GE crops, after the United States and Brazil. Approximately 25 million hectares are planted with genetically engineered soyabeans, corn, cotton, and wheat.

A total of 91 biotech crop events are now authorised for production and commercialisation in the country. These include 25 soyabean events, 50 maize events, nine cotton events, two alfalfa events, one safflower event, two potato events, and two wheat events.

Commercial adoption of GE crops began in 1996 with the introduction of herbicide-tolerant soyabeans. Since then, planted area has expanded significantly. Today, 100% of soyabeans, 99% of corn, and 100% of cotton grown in Argentina are genetically engineered.

GM soyabeans cover nearly the entire estimated 16.5 million hectares planted in the 2025/2026 marketing year. The availability of these varieties has also enabled more farmers to grow a second soyabean crop after wheat in regions that previously supported only one crop per season.

A major advancement occurred in 2012 with the authorisation of soyabean seeds combining insect resistance and herbicide tolerance. Adoption of these stacked varieties is highest in northeastern Argentina and gradually decreases toward the south.

The Argentine soyabean industry remains strongly export-oriented. In the 2024/2025 season, 7.3 million tonnes were shipped as whole beans, 27 million tonnes were crushed and exported as meal, and 5.3 million tonnes as oil. Argentina continues to lead globally in exports of the soyabean complex (beans, meal, and oil).

Three new soyabean events were authorised in 2025: BASF Argentina's BCS-GM151-6 x DAS-444Ø6-6, Corteva Seeds' COR23134, and DBNBC Argentina's DBN-Ø82Ø5-8.

These approvals reflect ongoing progress in biotechnology adoption and support Argentina's position as a major supplier of soyabean products to international markets.