Biotech farmers get bumper crop, controversy

SAN FRANCISCO — Farmers around the globe planting genetically engineered crops enjoyed another bumper harvest last year even as political and financial pressure mounted from skeptical consumers in Europe and pockets of the United States, an industry-supported group said Wednesday.

Eight million farmers in 17 countries grew engineered crops on 200 million acres last year, a 20 percent increase over the 167 million acres in 2003, according to a report released by the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications. The report was paid for by two philanthropic groups, including the Rockefeller Foundation.

In 1996, the first year genetically modified crops were commercially available, about 4.3 million acres were under biotechnology cultivation.

“The technology is probably poised to enter a new era of growth,” said the group’s founder and chairman, Clive James. The group promotes use of the technology in poor countries.

James estimated that the number of biotech crop acreage could double by 2010, spurred on by China’s expected approval to grow genetically engineered rice as soon as this year.

The most popular biotechnology crops contain bacteria genes that make the plants resistant to either bugs or weed killers.

James and other biotechnology proponents argue that genetically modified plants will help alleviate poverty and hunger in developing nations by improving crop yields and cutting expenses through less use of pesticides.

Edwin Paraluman, a farmer in the Philippines who joined James on a conference call with reporters Wednesday, said the planting of genetically engineered corn last year yielded him 40 percent more crop than usual.

“The benefits for the small farmer are great,” Paraluman said.