In 2007, additional 12.3 million hectares of genetically modified crops were planted, which is a 12 percent increase (114.3 million hectares) in a global scale. In the US, genetically modified soybean is more than 85 %, 76% for cotton, and corn was at 45% in 2004, The trend varies in each state. For instance, South Dakota produced about 79% of all GM corn and 95% of all GM soybeans. In Mississippi, 97% of all cotton was GM. Overall, 85% of corn, 91% of soybeans, and 88% of cotton produced in the US are genetically modified, and the trend has been moving to many other crops. The most important thing is not feeding the “hungry world” with something that could be toxic or carcinogenic, but rather, we need to evaluate its consequences to the quality of life and environment.

References

World watch (nd). Genetically Modified Crops Only a Fraction of Primary Global Crop Production.

Retrieved from http://www.worldwatch.org/node/5950.

The PEW (nd). Genetically Modified Crops in the United States. Retrieved from http://www.pewtrusts.org/news_room_detail.aspx?id=17950.