February 26, 2009

As GM planting becomes more widespread, the trend is likely to keep going upwards as Monsanto is expected to release SmartStax, the world's first GM corn with eight stacked traits, in the US by 2010.

SmartStax has eight genes providing multiple modes of action for above and below ground insect control for rootworm, corn borer and herbicide tolerance for glyphosate and glufosinate.

Of the 35.3 million hectares of corn grown in the US in 2008, 85 percent was GM, 78 percent was hybrids with either double or triple stacked traits while only 22 percent was hybrids with a single trait.

Last year, 10 countries - the US, Canada, Philippines, Australia, Mexico, South Africa, Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Honduras - grew GM crops with stacked traits.

Herbicide tolerant traits accounted for 63 percent of the 125 million hectares of GM crops grown in 25 countries last year, with an extra 10.7 million hectares of GM crops planted between 2007 and 2008.

GM soy continued to be the main crop grown last year, accounting for 53 percent of the global GM area. GM corn accounted for 30 percent, cotton by 12 percent and rapeseed by 5 percent.

Argentina's GM area increased from 15 million hectares in 2007 to 15.8 million hectares last year.

The US' GM acreage also increased from 57.7 million hectares in 2007 to 62.5 million tonnes last year.

Egypt, Burkina Faso and Bolivia have also begun growing GM crops.