"Although the area of the Portuguese mainland occupied with the cultivation of this MGO [genetically modified organism] has increased since 2005, the area cultivated has remained relatively stable since 2011 (at about 8,000 hectares, on average)", states the document drafted by the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA).

However, it reports "a slight increase in 2017, compared with the previous year (about 3.6%)".

The report is to be presented later by the minister of environment, João Matos Fernandes.

The Alentejo has 3,187.2 hectares under genetically modified maize, followed by Lisbon and the Tagus Valley, with 2,466 hectares, and the Centre with 1,608 hectares.

Last year the European Union as a whole saw a 3.5% decrease in total land under MGO crops, to 131,535 hectares.

Worldwide, the figure for 2016 was 185.1 million hectares in 26 countries, up 3% from 2015.