Genetically Modified Food Safety Testing Market – Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Food Type (Crops, Processed Foods, Others), By Region and Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 3.02 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	7.84%
Fastest Growing Segment	Crops
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 4.75 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Genetically Modified Food Safety Testing Market will grow from USD 3.02 Billion in 2025 to USD 4.75 Billion by 2031 at a 7.84% CAGR. The Global Genetically Modified Food Safety Testing Market encompasses the analytical protocols and verification processes employed to ensure that genetically engineered agricultural products comply with rigorous health and environmental standards before entering the supply chain. The market is primarily propelled by the expanding global acreage of biotech crops and the intensifying necessity for food security, which mandates strict adherence to international trade regulations to prevent supply chain disruptions. According to the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications, in 2025, the GM Approval Database recorded a total of 534 approvals for cultivation, food, and feed use globally, underscoring the critical need for validated safety assessments.

A significant impediment to market expansion is the lack of regulatory harmonization across different jurisdictions. Asynchronous approval timelines and varying tolerance levels for the low-level presence of genetically modified organisms create complex trade barriers and substantially increase compliance costs for exporters. This regulatory fragmentation complicates the validation process for multinational stakeholders and can delay the commercial introduction of new biotech varieties in key import markets.

Key Market Drivers

Implementation of Stringent Global Regulatory Frameworks and Labeling Mandates acts as a primary catalyst for the market, compelling exporters to adopt rigorous screening protocols to navigate complex international compliance landscapes. As nations enforce zero-tolerance policies or strict labeling thresholds for unapproved biotech events, the demand for comprehensive verification processes intensifies to prevent border rejections and trade disputes. This growing operational burden is evident in the rising volume of safety alerts; according to Merieux NutriSciences, March 2025, in the 'ACN 2023 Annual Report' summary, the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed recorded an 8% increase in notifications compared to the previous year, totaling 4,695 alerts. To support the enforcement infrastructure required for such stringent oversight, governments are actively funding analytical capabilities. For instance, according to the Food Standards Agency, January 2025, in the 'Consolidated Annual Report and Accounts 2023-2024', the organization provided £1.2 million across 17 National Reference Laboratory areas to maintain and improve national testing proficiency.

Substantial Expansion in the Commercial Cultivation of Genetically Modified Crops further accelerates the necessity for robust safety testing by increasing the volume of biotech commodities entering the global supply chain. The pervasive adoption of engineered varieties in major agricultural zones heightens the risk of commingling, necessitating frequent checkpoints to verify non-GMO status or confirm trait purity for identity-preserved markets. This market dominance is highlighted by production statistics in key regions; according to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, June 2025, in the 'Acreage' report, 94 percent of all corn acres planted in the United States were biotech varieties, underscoring the ubiquity of these crops. Consequently, stakeholders must employ high-throughput diagnostic solutions to manage the massive scale of genetically modified ingredients and ensure seamless adherence to safety standards.

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Key Market Challenges

The Global Genetically Modified Food Safety Testing Market faces a substantial hurdle due to the lack of regulatory harmonization across international jurisdictions. This regulatory fragmentation compels testing laboratories and exporters to navigate a labyrinth of asynchronous approval timelines and divergent tolerance thresholds for genetically modified organisms. When a biotech trait is approved in one country but remains unapproved in another, it necessitates the development and implementation of multiple, distinct analytical protocols to ensure compliance with each specific market's zero-tolerance or low-level presence policies. This complexity directly hampers market growth by elevating the operational costs and technical burdens associated with safety verification, effectively discouraging smaller players from entering the international trade arena.

Consequently, these extensive compliance requirements delay the commercialization of new agricultural biotechnology products, thereby reducing the volume of new varieties entering the supply chain that require testing. The impact of these regulatory bottlenecks is profound and measurable. According to CropLife International, in 2024, the rigorous and disparate global regulatory landscapes contributed to an average development timeline of approximately 16 years and a cost of nearly USD 115 million to bring a new biotech plant trait to market. Such protracted timelines deter investment in new product development, ultimately stagnating the demand for associated safety testing services and limiting the market's potential expansion.

Key Market Trends

The market is witnessing a distinct Shift Towards Outsourced Third-Party Testing Services, primarily driven by the high capital costs associated with maintaining advanced diagnostic capabilities like Next-Generation Sequencing and digital PCR. As the financial burden of establishing state-of-the-art in-house facilities increases, smaller and mid-sized food manufacturers are increasingly contracting accredited reference laboratories to ensure compliance with complex global regulations. This industry consolidation is evidenced by the operational expansion of key service providers; according to Mérieux NutriSciences, September 2025, in the press release 'Mérieux NutriSciences Completes Global Acquisition of Bureau Veritas' Food Testing Business', the company expanded its global network to more than 140 accredited laboratories following the finalization of a major strategic integration.

Simultaneously, there is a widespread Proliferation of Rapid Point-of-Need Testing Devices, enabling immediate decision-making at the earliest stages of the supply chain. Stakeholders are moving away from exclusive reliance on central labs for initial screening, favoring portable solutions such as lateral flow devices and mobile PCR units that allow farmers and grain elevators to verify crop purity on-site. This demand for decentralized testing solutions is reflected in the financial performance of market leaders; according to Neogen Corporation, January 2025, in the press release 'Neogen Announces Preliminary Second-Quarter 2025 Results', the organization reported preliminary quarterly revenues of USD 231.3 million, attributing the performance to accelerating core revenue growth within its Food Safety segment.

Segmental Insights

The crops segment represents the fastest-growing category in the Global Genetically Modified Food Safety Testing Market, driven by the expanding cultivation of bioengineered commodities like maize and soybeans. This growth is sustained by stringent regulatory protocols from entities such as the European Food Safety Authority, which enforce rigorous screening for unauthorized traits and compliance with labeling mandates. Additionally, the need to facilitate international trade through verified safety certificates necessitates frequent analysis of agricultural produce. As producers prioritize high-yield varieties to address food security, the demand for precise testing solutions within the crop sector continues to rise.

Regional Insights

North America maintains the leading position in the global genetically modified food safety testing market due to the extensive cultivation of bioengineered crops across the United States and Canada. This region supports a high volume of commercialized agricultural products, such as corn and soybeans, which drives the requirement for rigorous verification. The market dominance is further reinforced by a strict regulatory framework maintained by bodies like the Food and Drug Administration and the United States Department of Agriculture. These organizations enforce comprehensive testing mandates to ensure compliance with safety standards, thereby securing the region's primary market status.

Recent Developments

• In July 2025, Eurofins GeneScan was designated as a Foreign Testing Laboratory for Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) testing by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety of South Korea. This designation authorized the laboratory to conduct official safety testing on food products intended for export from the United States to Korea, facilitating a more efficient trade process. The approval allowed agricultural products and processed foods to bypass additional inspections at the border upon presentation of the company's analysis report. This regulatory recognition highlighted the company's technical expertise and reinforced its leadership role in the Global Genetically Modified Food Safety Testing Market.
• In December 2024, Cotecna’s subsidiary, NofaLab, announced a significant expansion of its analytical capabilities, directly addressing the needs of the Global Genetically Modified Food Safety Testing Market. The laboratory increased its testing scope from 22 to 50 genetically modified organism events, focusing on key crops such as soy, maize, and canola. This development was driven by growing market demand for precise and reliable verification to ensure compliance with international regulations. By broadening its detection portfolio, the company strengthened its ability to support traders and producers in certifying the non-GMO status of their agricultural commodities and finished food products.
• In October 2024, Mérieux NutriSciences entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the food testing business of Bureau Veritas for an enterprise value of €360 million. This strategic acquisition included a global network of 34 laboratories and 1,900 technical staff, significantly reinforcing the company's position in the Global Genetically Modified Food Safety Testing Market. The integration of these facilities enhanced Mérieux NutriSciences' capabilities in microbiological, chemical, and molecular testing, the latter being a critical technology for the detection and quantification of genetically modified organisms. This expansion allowed the company to offer more comprehensive safety and compliance solutions to its clients worldwide.
• In October 2024, SGS North America announced the opening of a new, state-of-the-art laboratory in Fairfield, New Jersey, designed to expand its capacity within the Global Genetically Modified Food Safety Testing Market. The facility was established to meet the increasing demand for regulatory compliance and quality assurance in the food and nutraceutical sectors. It featured advanced infrastructure for rapid and traditional pathogen testing, along with specialized capabilities in DNA and protein-based detection methods. These technologies are essential for the accurate identification of genetically modified ingredients, ensuring that manufacturers can verify product authenticity and meet stringent safety standards.

Key Market Players

• Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
• Bureau Veritas SA
• Emsl Analytical Inc.
• Eurofins Scientific SE
• Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.
• SGS SA
• Intertek Group Plc
• Genetic ID NA Inc.
• ALS Limited
• Assure Quality Limited

By Food Type	By Region
Crops Processed Foods Others	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Genetically Modified Food Safety Testing Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Genetically Modified Food Safety Testing Market, By Food Type:

• Crops
• Processed Foods
• Others

• Genetically Modified Food Safety Testing Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE