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U.S. farmers and those in developing countries helped drive a surge in new plantings of genetically modified crops around the globe in 2011, even in the face of resistance from Europe and from those who think such crops ought to carry special labels.

Worldwide, 395 million acres of farmland were planted in 2011 in biotech crops, 30 million more than 2010, say the figures in this year’s International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications report, out Tuesday. The amount of land devoted to genetically engineered crops grew 8% last year, down from 10% growth in 2010. The first biotech crop was approved for use in 1996.

The United States still leads the world in GM plantings, with 170 million acres in 2012, which produce 95% of the nation’s sugar beets, 94% of the soybeans, 90% of the cotton and 88% of the feed corn.

Genetic engineering seeks to boost crop production or lower costs. The plants are often genetically modified to resist weed killers or to generate their own insect repellant.