In 2009, how many countries were planting genetically engineered crops?

American farmers first planted genetically engineered crops in nineteen ninety-six. Today eighty percent of the cropland for soybeans, maize and cotton in the United States is transgenic. Genetic engineering adds or changes genes in a plant to produce desired qualities. The United States is one of twenty-five countries where farmers planted genetically engineered crops in two thousand nine". An agricultural biotechnology group says planting decreased in Europe. But the amount of cropland planted with the crops rose by an estimated seven percent worldwide. A study examined how genetically engineered crops have affected farming in the United States. It found that many farmers have better harvests, better weed control and fewer losses from insect damage compared to traditional crops. It also found that genetically engineered crops can be better for the environment. For example, crops designed to resist damage by glyphosate need fewer pesticides that are more toxic to the soil. Glyphosate is a chemical used in Round-Up and other weed killing products. But some farmers are using the more toxic herbicides to control weeds. Glyphosate is as important in worldwide food production as penicillin is in medicine for fighting disease. However, there should be better use of glyphosate-resistant crop technology