By Tom Heap
Figures show that the area planted with genetically modified crops in
Europe has grown by 77% since last year. This year over 1,000 sq km of GM
maize was harvested. 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.

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.

One thousand sq km is still a small fraction of the total farmed area
of Europe and also tiny compared to the one million sq km 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.


[news.bbc.co.uk]