February 23, 2011
SAO PAULO (AFP) - Global plantings of genetically modified crops increased 10 percent in 2010 compared to the prior year, according to a study released Tuesday by an organization that promotes crop biotechnology.
Last year, 15.4 million farmers in 29 countries planted genetically modified crops on 148 million hectares (366 million acres), said the report from the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA).
The group's chairman, Clive James, said a rapid increase since 1996 shows that "biotech crops are the fastest-adopted crop technology in the history of modern agriculture."
The United States remained the largest biotech crop growing country with nearly 67 million hectares (165 million acres) of soybeans, corn and cotton.
Brazil was second with 25 million hectares (62 million acres), an increase of 19 percent over 2009.
Developing countries grew 48 percent of biotech crops last year, the report said, adding that they will surpass industrialized countries by 2015.
