Country Reports Field trials and commercial cultivation in Greece

Field trials

Currently, no genetically modified plants are grown in Greece. Recently, a University application was rejected by the ministries of agriculture and environment. It is unlikely that any field trials will be permitted in the medium term.

Earlier, field trials often were brought to and end by vandalism. Prior to the EU moratorium on the cultivation of GM plants in 1998, a total of 19 GM plant events had been approved for environmental release. None of these approvals are still valid today.

More statistics

Commercial cultivation

In the EU, Greece is second only to Austria in opposition to GM crops. The government has banned the cultivation of genetically modified plants, and 52 of the 54 Greek regions have declared themselves GM-free zones.
The typically small size of Greek crop fields would make coexistence more difficult and expensive than in other countries. In addition, according to the Eurobarometer survey, the public acceptance of GM plants in Greece is the lowest within the whole EU.

See also on GMO-Compass:

• GM Crops: Growing around the world
• Genetically Modified Plants: Field Trials in the EU