UPDATE 1-Europe GMO area to surge over 10 years-Monsanto

(Rewrites, adds details)

By Sybille de La Hamaide

PARIS, June 25 (Reuters) - Europe will increase its genetically modified crop area by 50,000-100,000 hectares a year over the next decade, from 100,000 ha in 2007, U.S. biotech giant Monsanto (MON.N) said on Monday.

"It will be slow but within 10 years GMOs will have reached the point of no return," Jean-Michel Duhamel, Monsanto's director for southern Europe, told reporters in Paris.

"The technology will not impose itself to consumers but consumers will better understand the usefulness of GMO technology as farmers increasingly adopt it," he added.

In France, the world's largest seed maker, GMO maize -- the only biotech crop allowed in the country -- was expected to be grown on 600,000 hectares in 10 years, against 25,000 in 2007, despite fierce opposition to GMOs in the country.

GMOs would still be a minor part of France's total grain sowings of more than nine million hectares, including 1.5 million of maize.

"It is more complicated in France than elsewhere but if we reach a 50 percent rise (in area) per year it wouldn't be bad as at world level we expect it to rise 20 percent," Duhamel said.

French consumers are well known for their scepticism, if not hostility, to GMO crops.

Monsanto was not optimistic attitudes would change soon.

"Within the next few years there will likely be some turbulence," Duhamel said. "Consumers receive false information on what GMO crops are so it is normal that they are afraid. But I'm sure that within 10 years they will have accepted them."

Despite consumer opposition, French and European farmers have increasingly sown Monsanto's MON 810 maize, the only type of GMO crop allowed to be grown for commercial purposes.

In 2007 French farmers have sown 25,000 hectares of MON 810 maize, which has been modified to resist certain insect pests, against nearly 5,000 ha last year.

In Spain the area reached 70,000 hectares and in Germany 3,000, the company said.

"What farmers are waiting for is a market. When there will be one, they will make their choice immediately," Duhamel said.

He said farmers favouredf GMO crops because they improved yields by around 1.5 tonne per hectare (from an average of 8.5 tonnes).

France's largest farm union, FNSEA, has said it does not oppose GMOs as such and has expressed fears that strong resistance to biotech crops might hurt France's agricultural leadership in Europe.