With increased GMO plantings in Brazil and the United States in 2016, the total amount of GMO crops grown worldwide is up after a decline in 2015.
“Biotech crops were planted on a record 185.1 million hectares (457.4 million acres) last year, up 3 percent from the 179.7 hectares (444.0 million acres) planted a year earlier, said the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications, the group that released the data,” says Reuters.
The United States—the world’s largest grower of GMOs—saw a 3 percent increase in the crops, while Brazil—the second-largest producer—experienced an 11 percent rise.
“Low cotton prices and high stocks triggered a 24 percent drop in biotech seedings in China, where some biotech corn and soybean varieties are approved for import but not for cultivation,” says Reuters.