Genetically modified crops

The amount of land planted with genetically modified (GM) crops grew by 10% in 2010 to 148m hectares (366m acres), according to the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA), an industry body. America is by far the largest GM grower, with almost half the total number of hectares, followed by Brazil (which increased its GM area the most) and Argentina. GM is no longer the preserve of rich nations. Rates of growth are much higher in developing countries (up 17% in 2010) than in developed ones (only 5% up). Over 15m farmers planted GM crops in 2010; 94% of them come from developing countries, which include 19 of the 29 countries where GM technology is used.