New report highlights gap between New GMO hype and global market reality
PR Newswire
BELLINGHAM, Wash., May 21, 2026
Lack of market uptake and unproven sustainability benefits contrast with rapid regulatory change; Public resistance to new GMOs grows around indigenous, small-holder, and farmer rights.BELLINGHAM, Wash., May 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The European Non-GMO Industry Association (ENGA), The Non-GMO Project (US/Canada) and semnar (Switzerland), have announced the 2026 New GMOs Market Report. As a follow-up to the 2024 edition, the report analyzes global market developments and regulatory trends related to the next generation of genetically engineered food crops. The authors point to a growing disconnect between industry expectations, sustainability claims, and the real-world deployment of new genetic engineering technologies such as CRISPR. At the same time, the report identifies recent advancements made by several global communities, often led by indigenous, smallholder farmers, peasant movements and farm workers, in resisting biotechnology in the food system. The report's findings are stark: Despite the hype of new genetic engineering breakthroughs, often driven by the promise of climate and environmental benefits, just four New GMO crops are currently cultivated commercially worldwide (only one more than in 2025), and none currently demonstrate measurable sustainability benefits. At the same time, companies are developing 108 new GMO crops, many of which have received regulatory clearance but have not reached commercial-scale cultivation.
