Spanish GM maize area down 4%

The area for genetically modified maize planted by Spanish growers dipped in 2013 to 131,538 ha, according to the Ministry of Agriculture. That was over 5,000 ha lower than the previous year. The reduction is in line with reduced planting of maize last year.  The findings put the proportion of the crop planted with the GM Bt maize at around one third (31.6%), marginally more than in 2012, the Spanish biotechnology association, Fundacion Antama, notes. The planting of GM maize has been on a general upward trajectory since the 11,540 ha that were planted in 2001.