The imperative to increase food production and security while safeguarding health and the environment has intensified policy debates among stakeholders and governments regarding GMOs. This study provides a comparative analysis of the policies, institutions, and stakeholders shaping GMOs in the United States and France—two leading biotechnology actors with distinct governance approaches. Using documentary data and a comparative method, the findings show that both countries aim for product safety, food security, and consumer confidence. However, the United States emphasizes innovation and industry/trade support, while France prioritizes environmental protection and biodiversity. In the United States, policy development occurs within a single federal framework, allocating responsibilities among the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In France, a precautionary, environmentalist orientation guides policy, overseen by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in collaboration with the French Agency for Food, Environmental, and Occupational Health Safety (ANSES) and the Independent Research and Information Committee on Genetic Engineering (CRIIGEN). A synthesis suggests that observed differences arise from varying stakeholder influence on policy-making in each country. The study highlights practical implications for Iranian policy and industry, noting that governance choices affect innovation, risk management, and public trust, with potential lessons for risk governance, regulatory design, and international harmonization.