Source: CropBiotech Update

Two European countries, France and the Czech Republic, are expected to grow more genetically modified (GM) maize this year. Daniel Cheron, director of Vilmorin, a French seed producer, made a forecast that France will increase maize plantings from about 1,000 hectares to an estimated 5,000 hectares.

Similarly, the Czech Republic is expected to increase maize plantings from 270 to as much as 3,000 hectares by the end of 2006, says Miroslav Tyl, a farming consultant. The Czech Republic is now in fifth place among European countries that are growing GM maize. Spain still leads with plantings of 50,000 hectares.

Increased plantings are anticipated in the two countries due to the farmers’ favorable experience with GM maize.

Reports from http://www.abeurope.info/ and http://www.praguemonitor.com/past.php.