Biotech Crop Area Increases

February 17, 2014 12:00 am

Last year marked the 18th consecutive year of growth in biotech (Genetically Modified) crops.  In 2013, 175.2 million hectares of GM crops were grown globally, this is an area over 7 times the size of the UK, and a 5% increase on the previous year.  This data comes from the latest annaul report from the ISAAA on the status of biotech crops around the world (see http://www.isaaa.org/).  The table below shows the nineteen counties that grow over 50,000 hectares of GM crops; in total 27 counties grow biotech crops.

Country

GM Area (Million Ha)

Crops

USA

70.1

Maize, soybean, cotton, canola, sugar beet, alfalfa, papaya, squash

Brazil

40.3

Soybean, maize, cotton

Argentina

24.4

Soybean, maize, cotton

India

11.0

Cotton

Canada

10.8

Canola, maize, soybean, sugar beet

China

4.2

Cotton, papaya, poplar, tomato, sweet pepper

Paraguay

3.6

Soybean, maize, cotton

South Africa

2.9

Maize, soybean cotton

Pakistan

2.8

Cotton

Uruguay

1.5

Soybean, maize

Bolivia

1.0

Soybean

Philippines

0.8

Maize

Australia

0.6

Cotton, canola

Burkina Faso

0.5

Cotton

Myanmar

0.3

Cotton

Spain

0.1

Maize

Mexico

0.1

Cotton, soybean

Colombia

0.1

Cotton, maize

Sudan

0.1

Cotton

Source:ISAAA, 2014

Over 18 million farmers grow biotech crops.  China and India account for the vast proportion of these growers 7.5 million and 7.3 million respectively.  The report states that these are predominately risk-adverse farmers with small land areas.  Within Europe, Spain leads the way in GM production.  In 2013, 136,962 Ha of Bt maize was grown, up 18% on the previous year.  With more counties approving GM crops and increasing areas being planted in those nations that have already adopted the technology, the increase in GM production looks set to continue.

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