Global biotech crop planting area still on the rise

In 2016, 26 countries in total, including 19 developing and 7 industrial countries, grew biotech crops on 185.1 million hectares, according to the annual report of the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) published in May 2017. For comparison, 179. 7 million hectares of biotech crops were planted in 2015 and 181.5 million hectares in 2014.

As more varieties of biotech crops are approved and commercialised for use by farmers, ISAAA expects to see adoption rates continue to climb in developing countries. In 2016, South Africa and Sudan increased the planting of biotech maize, soybean and cotton to 2.66 million hectares from 2.29 million hectares in 2015. Elsewhere on the continent, a new wave of acceptance is emerging as Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, Swaziland and Uganda make advances in regulatory review and commercial approvals for a variety of biotech crops, according to ISAAA.

In 2016, the leading countries growing biotech crops continued to be represented by the United States, Brazil, Argentina, Canada and India. Combined, these five countries planted 91 per cent of the global biotech crop area.

Also in 2016, Brazil increased biotech area of maize, soybean, and cotton by a remarkable 11 per cent – maintaining its ranking as the second largest producer of biotech crops after the United States. In Brazil, biotech soybeans account for 32.7 million hectares of the 91.4 million hectares grown worldwide.

Biotech soybean varieties accounted for 50 per cent of global biotech crop area. Based on global area for individual crops, 78 per cent of soybean, 64 per cent of cotton, 26 per cent of maize and 24 per cent  of canola planted in the world were biotech varieties.

Countries with over 90 per cent adoption of biotech soybean are U.S.A, Brazil, Argentina, Canada, South Africa, and Uruguay; close to or over 90 per cent adoption of biotech maize are USA, Brazil, Argentina, Canada, South Africa, and Uruguay; over 90 per cent of biotech cotton are USA, Argentina, India, China, Pakistan, South Africa, Mexico, Australia, and Myanmar; and with 90 per cent or more of biotech canola are USA and Canada.

More information or the executive summary of the report „Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops: 2016“

(ISAAA/ile)