China, the world's largest food consumer, led developing countries in growing biotech crops last year, according to a report by an industry organization.

The country was the world's sixth-largest grower of biotech crops in 2012, the same as a year ago, the report by the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications, or ISAAA, said.

The nation's total growing area for biotech crops stood at 4 million hectares, with cotton the dominant crop, the report, released on Friday, said.