| World Production of Biotech Crops Keeps
Growing
By John Mason, Food and Rural Affairs Correspondent,
in London Published: January 16 2003 4:00 | Last Updated: January
16 2003 4:00
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The production of genetically modified crops
throughout the world continues to increase, particularly in developing
countries, according to figures published yesterday.
The total amount of land under cultivation with
GM crops grew 12 per cent in 2002, continuing the double-digit growth
recorded since 1996, said the International Service for the Acquisition
of Agri-Biotech Applications (ISAAA), an organisation promoting
the sharing of GM technology.
The area under cultivation is now 58.7m hectares,
with more than one-fifth of the global crop area of soya, corn,
cotton and rape now producing biotech varieties.
Clive James, the ISAAA chairman, said: "This
high adoption rate is a strong vote of confidence in biotech crops,
reflecting farmers' need for and satisfaction with the technology".
The increase was achieved despite a moratorium
in the European Union and concern in some African countries leading
to a ban on GM food aid. The US is considering whether to bring
a complaint to the World Trade Organisation over the EU's moratorium
and proposed labelling regime.
The main countries growing GM crops continue
to be the US, Canada, Argentina and China. For the first time, more
than half China's cotton crop is an insect-resistant biotech variety.
The use of GM crops is increasing in developing
countries. Of the 16 countries now growing GM crops, nine are from
the developing south. For the first time more than half the world's
population lives in countries growing biotech crops.
India, Colombia and Honduras began growing biotech
crops last year and the Philippines has recently approved the cultivation
of insect-resistant corn. The possible approval of GM soya by Brazil,
the subject of long-running legal action, would result in significant
growth in the soya market, said ISAAA. The global market for GM
crops is estimated to have risen from $3.8bn in 2001 to about $4.25bn
(§4.03bn, 2.65bn) in 2002. ISAAA estimated it will grow to $5bn
by 2005.
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