Global cultivation of genetically modified (GM) crops grew by seven percent during 2009, according to a new report, with the United States leading the way.

The International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications (ISAAA) report shows that the US is by far the leader in GM crops both in terms of variety and quantity. They account for 64 million hectares of GM plants, followed by Brazil and Argentina, each with one-third the amount.

Even though more and more consumers speak out against GM foods, the number of crops planted worldwide continues to climb. For example, the hottest potato in Europe this summer, in terms of controversy, is the newly introduced genetically modified (GM) potato. This spring the European Commission's pro-GM president, Manuel Barroso, held hushed meetings that resulted in the commission defying most of the governments to which it is supposed to be accountable and went ahead with a modified potato across the continent.

This move marks the first time a GM crop had been allowed for cultivation in 13 years, since maize was introduced. Until this change, "GM crops covered only about 0.12 per cent of Europe's agricultural land, mainly in Spain--and the continent accounted for just 0.08 per cent of the area growing them worldwide," according to Telegraph news researcher Geoffrey Lean (March 12, 2010).
Did Europeans change their minds about GM foods? No. In fact, GM acceptance was continuing to decline, which is evident in that, over the past two years, France and Germany joined Austria, Hungary, Greece and Luxemburg in banning the GM maize.

Meanwhile, a potential staple crop, GM wheat, still has yet to contaminate the globe, but despite the biotech industry's retreat from Canadian consumers and activists in 2004, there are more plans in works. A group of wheat industry representative organizations from the US, Canada and Australia signed a joint statement in 2009 vowing to combine their efforts to commercialize GM wheat.

Want to search for other articles that may interest you?

Readers of this article also enjoyed...