Cultivation of GMOs rises in many European countries

GMO Compass

September 30, 2008

Statistics released on Monday by the European Association for Bioindustries (EuropaBio) indicate an increase in the use of genetically modified (GM) crops in the year 2008 for many European countries. Significant increases are evident in the Czech Republic, Romania, Poland and Slovakia. In France, the cultivation of GM crops has not been allowed in 2008.

In Europe this year, 108,000 hectares were dedicated to Bt maize. Despite the cultivation ban in France in 2008, the GM cultivation area only slightly decreased compared to 2007 (110,000 hectares). In 2007, French farmers had grown GM maize on 21,000 hectares.

Rumania has shown the largest increase in GMO acreage and currently grows GM maize on more than 7,000 hectares. This represents an increase of almost 20-fold in comparison to 2007. Other countries with significant increases include Poland, which has increased its acreage 9-fold to 3,000 hectares this year. Slovakia has more than doubled its GMO cultivation to 1,900 hectares.

In 2008, the Czech Republic planted GM crops on 8,380 hectares (68% increase) and Germany cultivated GM crops on 3,173 hectares (39% increase). Portugal and Spain experienced increases of GMO acreage of 8% and 5%, cultivating on 4,851 and 79,269 hectares respectively. Accordingly, Spain is still the EU country with the largest cultivation area of GM maize.

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