Spain remains the leading EU producer of Genetically Engineered (GE) corn with 136,962 ha (239,483 acres) planted in 2013, followed by Portugal with 8,171 ha (20,190 acres).
These two countries account for over 90 per cent of the total EU-28 area planted to MON810 in the European Union.
Both countries have a feed grain deficit that varies depending on domestic pastures and feed grain availability.
On average import needs are about 9 million MT in Spain, and nearly 3 million MT in Portugal. Under these conditions, biotechnology is considered a tool to reduce yield damaging pest pressure and to contribute to reduce external dependency on grains.
An increase in total area planted to corn has resulted in record GE corn plantings in the Iberian Peninsula for the third consecutive year. The steady increase registered in Spain offset the 12 per cent decline registered in Portugal.
Spain
Total area planted to corn in Spain has grown by nearly 10 per cent, reaching 424,491 ha, according to the latest official statistical release (up from 388,470 ha planted in 2012). The largest increase in corn plantings took place in Extremadura and Navarra.
According to final statistics released by the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment (MAGRAMA), area planted to GE corn has increased by over 17 per cent compared to 2012 data, resulting in an overall increased GE corn share of 32 per cent, the largest GE corn share since the beginning of its commercial cultivation in Spain.
Attending to the different regions, the largest GE corn market share was registered in Catalonia, where the area planted to GE corn represented 82 per cent of total corn.
In Andalucía, corn farmers have steadily increased GE corn plantings, which according to data available, represented 30 percent of total area planted to corn.
