CULTIVATED GMOs IN THE WORLD in 2010

15 years after their commercial release, GMOs represent 9.8% (148 millions ha) of crops worldwide, with an annual increase <1%. GMOs are still distributed only in 4 plants (soya, maize, cotton and colza or canola) and the  first two represent 81% of the total, despite a large number of growing authorizations that remain unused so far. They all are pesticide plants modified to be either herbicide tolerant (i.e. to absorb an herbicide like Roundup without dying 61%), or to produce one or more insecticides (17%), or they have both characteristics, with the production of up to 3 herbicide tolerances and 6 insecticides, depending on the plant. None the other promises are kept. 87% of GMOs in surface, grow on the American continent, which represents 97% GMOs grown for food and feed, whereas cotton is essentially grown in India and China. In response to GMOs, resistance is rising round the world. In India for instance the Bt brinjal aubergine has been stopped. In the United States, like everywhere else, GMOs are not labeled, nor assessed for more than three months on mammalian health before being authorized, and often without blood analyses, as used to be the case. With no labeling, GMOs are easily disseminated. By contrast, Europe cultivates less than 0.001% of GMOs and mostly in Spain.

We deeply regret that a body like ISAAA should begin its report by stating "Consistent and substantial economic, environmental and welfare benefits offered by biotech crops". The GMOs in question have from the beginning been fed to porks, cows and chickens essentially for rich countries. They contribute to poverty and worldwide malnutrition, as well as to environmental and chronic health risks.

Contact : Prof. Gilles-Eric Séralini - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it