Today, GM crops are already being grown commercially, or plans are under way to do so, in more than two dozen countries worldwide (Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Canada, Chile, China, Czech Republic, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Tanzania, Uruguay, US and Vietnam). Many others, including the UK, are conducting or have conducted field trials with a view to commercial cultivation.

Current estimates are that there more than 8 million farmers using GM crops worldwide, over 80% of them small, resource-poor farmers in developing countries. Many other countries import GM food crops from producing countries.

Sources:

1. ISAAA Briefs 32-2004: Preview: Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops: 2004 (http://www.isaaa.org)

2. Agriculture - Dans le plus grand secret, des cultures de maïs transgénique ont été plantées dans le Sud-Ouest. OGM : déjà un millier d'hectares en France. Le Figaro (6 September 2005) (http://www.lefigaro.fr/sciences/20050906.FIG0248.html?152235)

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