GM crop cultivation in EU down 12 pct in 2009

* German GM maize ban plays part in reduction

* Outside EU GM cultivation grew

BRUSSELS, Feb 23 (Reuters) - The cultivation of genetically
modified crops in the European Union fell 12 percent last year,
due partly to Germany's decision to ban the growing of GM maize,
an industry-sponsored report said on Tuesday.

The land area sown to biotech crops across the 27-country EU
in 2009 totalled 94,750 hectares, down from 107,719 hectares in
2008, the report issued by the International Service for the
Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) showed.

The only GM crop grown in the bloc is an insect-resistant
maize, MON 810, developed by U.S. biotech firm Monsanto (MON.N).
MON 810 -- also known as Bt maize -- was approved for a decade
of growing in 1998 and is awaiting licence renewal by the EU.
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The German cultivation ban on MON 810 cut the number of EU
countries growing GM crops in 2009 to six. Spain still had by
far the largest amount of land sown to GM at 76,057 hectares,
down 4 percent on 2008, the ISAAA said.

"The decrease (in EU GM cultivation) in 2009 was associated
with several factors, including the economic recession,
decreased total plantings of hybrid maize and disincentives for
some farmers due to onerous reporting of intended plantings of
Bt maize," the report said.

Environmental group Greenpeace attributed the decrease to
higher GM seed prices and public opposition to GM crops in
Europe.

"GM crops are a failed experiment. They are failing in the
field and failing on the market," a Greenpeace spokesman said.

In contrast to the EU, GM cultivation globally grew by 7
percent last year to reach 134 million hectares, the report
said. The United States had by far the largest GM area,
totalling 64 million hectares, followed by Brazil and Argentina.

EUROPEAN UNION GM CROP SOWINGS BY AREA IN 2008, 2009

(in hectares)

2008 2009

Spain 79,269 76,057

Czech Republic 8,380 6,480

Portugal 4,851 5,094

Romania 7,146 3,244

Poland 3,000 3,000

Slovakia 1,900 875

(Reporting by Charlie Dunmore; Editing by Keiron Henderson