This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/sci/tech/7066878.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Massive rise in Europe GM crops | Massive rise in Europe GM crops |
| (29 minutes later) | |
| Figures to be published later on Monday show the area planted with genetically modified crops in Europe has grown by 77% since last year. | Figures to be published later on Monday show the area planted with genetically modified crops in Europe has grown by 77% since last year. |
| This year more than 1,000 sq km (386 sq miles) of GM maize was harvested. | This year more than 1,000 sq km (386 sq miles) of GM maize was harvested. |
| The biotech industry say this proves their product is appealing to farmers and safe for the environment. | The biotech industry say this proves their product is appealing to farmers and safe for the environment. |
| The only genetically modified crop grown widely in Europe is maize resistant to the corn borer - a moth larvae which eats the stem. | The only genetically modified crop grown widely in Europe is maize resistant to the corn borer - a moth larvae which eats the stem. |
| Planted in Spain for the last 10 years, it is now proving popular in France where the acreage has tripled in a year and also in Germany and the Czech Republic. | Planted in Spain for the last 10 years, it is now proving popular in France where the acreage has tripled in a year and also in Germany and the Czech Republic. |
| Neither the pest nor the GM maize is found in Britain. | Neither the pest nor the GM maize is found in Britain. |
| One thousand sq km (386 sq miles) is still a small fraction of the total farmed area of Europe and also tiny compared to the one million sq km (0.38 million sq miles) under GM around the world - an expanse four times the size of Britain. | |
| Some environmental groups claim beneficial insects could also be harmed by the crop and in France President Nicolas Sarkozy has suspended all GM plantings until next year. | Some environmental groups claim beneficial insects could also be harmed by the crop and in France President Nicolas Sarkozy has suspended all GM plantings until next year. |