Biotech Crops Continue to Soar in 10 Year of Commercialization, says EuropaBio

Brussels, 11 Jan 2006

The number of hectares planted with biotech crops worldwide increased by 9.0 million hectares (22 million acres) in 2005. This is according to new figures published today by SAAA (The International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications.

"More farmers are choosing to plant GM crops than ever before. This is testament to the real advantages and benefits farmers worldwide are getting out of biotech crops," says Simon Barber, Director of the Plant Biotechnology Unit at EuropaBio – the European association for bioindustries. "It is very encouraging to see that among the growing number of countries adopting biotech crops, a number of them are now European – farmers in 5 EU member states planted GM crops in 2005 ."

The benefits that can be achieved through biotechnology applied to agriculture have also prompted more than 3,400 international scientists to sign the AgBioWorld declaration of support for agricultural biotechnology to improve agriculture in the developing world. Signatories include 25 Nobel Prize winners.

Further information on the Europabio figures

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