September 8, 2004

Genetically Modified Corn On The Rise In US

U.S. farmers have planted an additional 4.9 million acres of genetically modified corn this year. Thus the portion of U.S. corn that is GM increased from 81 percent in 2003 to 85 percent in 2004, the Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology reports.

"Crop varieties developed by genetic engineering were first introduced for commercial production in 1996. Today, these crops are planted on more than 167 million acres worldwide. U.S. farmers are by far the largest producers of genetically modified crops," the Pew trust said.

Most GM seed corn is produced in Hawaii, where a large majority of all the corn grown is raised for the production of genetically modified seeds.

On the mainland, the state adopting GM corn most quickly is South Dakota, where 79 percent of all corn is genetically modified. Nationally, 32 percent of U.S. corn is genetically modified.

Scientists have been experimenting with genetic modifications to plants to give them natural protection against diseases and pests. But most commercially-available GM plants are modified to enable them to withstand greater applications of convention pesticide and herbicide chemicals.

One of the major players in the GM business is Monsanto, which modifies plants so they can take extra sprayings of its best-selling product Roundup.

Argentina is the second biggest grower of GM crops, mainly soybeans. Fourth-ranked Brazil recently legalized the planting of GM soybeans. Third-ranked Canada's principal biotech crop is canola. Two Asia-Pacific countries, China and the Philippines, are showing interest in planting more GM crops.