Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops: 2011

ISAAA Brief 43-2011


Global adoption of biotech crop technology continues at unprecedented rates. During 2011, an additional 12 million hectares were planted representing an annual growth rate of 8 percent over 2010, according to Clive James author of the annual biotech crop report released today by ISAAA.

Mandy and Fanny

The Future of Sustainable Agriculture


"Mandy & Fanny: The Future of Sustainable Agriculture" narrates the story of two biotech crops (maize and cotton), which have been grown on millions of hectares since 1996. The four-minute video offers an exciting way to learn about biotech crops with its audio visual content, animation, and interactive info graphics.

Media, Messages & Metaphors

How Philippine Newspapers Define Agri-biotech


The study underscores the relationship between science and media and the process of negotiating public or popular images of science. It analyzed media coverage, sources of articles, tone, media frames, use of metaphors, and article titles.

Communication Challenges and Convergence in Crop Biotechnology


The book presents case studies that offer unique and rich examples of how countries have been able to guide through the 'drama' of crop biotechnology as they shepherd innovations from the laboratory, greenhouse trials, multi-location trials, and hopefully to farmers' fields.

Crop Biotech Update

Crop Biotech Update Logo

February 10, 2012


Global
ISAAA Launches 2011 Global Data on Biotech Crops in the Philippines
WEF Leaders See Need to View Agriculture as a Holistic System
Germplasm Resources Information Network Launched
Policy Actions Recommended to Tackle Food Security in Arab World

Africa
Tanzania Has 2 New Cassava Varieties Resistant to CBSD and CMD
Agriculture Minister Says Tanzania Ready for Biotechnology

Americas
Scripps Research Team Elucidates Structure of UV Protection Molecule in Plants
ASA Comments on EU Free Trade Agreement

Asia and the Pacific
Japanese Scientists Sheds Light on Genetics of Rice Metabolism
NCKU's Research on Heat-tolerant Cauliflower Seedlings Benefits World Food Supply
ICAR Publishes 6th Revised Edition of Handbook of Agriculture

Europe
Regulations on GM Field Trials in Europe: A Review
European Leaders Say Europe Needs Biotech
UK Scientists Identify Important Gene in Maize Plant
EC JRC Publishes New Summary Plant Notifcations
GM Potatoes Producing Biopolymer as a Renewable Resource

Research
Scientists Analyze Susceptibility of Mediterranean Corn Borer to Cry1F-expressing Maize
Functional Characterization of GlZEP Promoter in GE Tomato
Role of Docs1 in Specification of Outer Cell Layers in Rice Roots

Beyond Crop Biotech
How DNA Finds its Match
Protein Structures Give Disease Clues
Gene Therapy Restores Vision in Both Eyes

Document Reminders
EFSA Report on Risk Assessment of Food and Feed Derived from GM Animals
Article Search:

Crop Biotech Update: Special Edition

February 7, 2012

Press Release of ISAAA Brief No. 43-2011:  Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops: 2011

Global adoption of biotech crop technology continues at unprecedented rates. During 2011, an additional 12 million hectares were planted representing an annual growth rate of 8 percent over 2010, according to Clive James author of the annual biotech crop report released today by ISAAA (International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications).

“Unprecedented adoption rates are testimony to overwhelming trust and confidence in biotech crops by millions of farmers worldwide,” said James. “Since biotech crop commercialization in 1996, farmers in 29 countries worldwide made more than 100 million decisions to plant and replant more than 1.25 billion hectares – an area of crop land 25 percent larger than the total land mass of the United States or China.”

Crop Biotech Update Translations

PDF: (Opens in new window)

Thai - November 1, 2011
Arabic - December 9, 2011
Portuguese - December 1, 2011
Japanese - January 1, 2012
Bahasa Indonesia - January 6, 2012
Chinese - December 21, 2011
Chinese-Traditional - December 21, 2011
Vietnamese - December 21, 2011
Bangla - December 16, 2011

Web format:

French - January 2012 issue
Italian - March 2011 issue
Spanish - December 2011 issue

What's New

ISAAA Brief 43-2011 Now Available!
Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops: 2011 is now available. Get your copy now!

Communication Challenges and Convergence in Crop Biotechnology
First 3 chapters now available for download! The book presents case studies that offer unique and rich examples of how countries have been able to guide through the 'drama' of crop biotechnology as they shepherd innovations from the laboratory, greenhouse trials, multi-location trials, and hopefully to farmers' fields.

Biotech Country Facts and Trends: 5 more countries now availbale
Another five Biotech Country Facts and Trends, a one to two page summary of the important highlights in the commercialization of biotech crops in the developing countries namely Pakistan, South Africa, Uruguay, Bolivia, Philippines, Myanmar, Burkina Faso, Mexico, Columbia, Chile, and Honduras.

Chinese and Swahili Versions of Mandy and Fanny Now Available
The novel educational cartoon featuring two characters, "Mandy" and "Fanny" impersonating biotech maize and biotech cotton, is now finding its way to China and East Africa through Mandarin and Swahili versions.

Biotech Country Facts and Trends
These one- to two-page summaries contain data on biotech crop commercialization (hectarage and adoption), approvals and planting, benefits and future prospects in developing countries for 2010. Now available: Brazil, Argentina, India, China, and Paraguay

Media, Messages & Metaphors: How Philippine Newspapers Define Agri-biotech
The study underscores the relationship between science and media and the process of negotiating public or popular images of science. It analyzed media coverage, sources of articles, tone, media frames, use of metaphors, and article titles.

Nanotechnology in Agriculture
This Pocket K summarizes relevant research findings and discussions about the use of nanotechnology in crop biotechnology, recycling of agricultural waste, and delivery of pests, nutrients, and hormones.

The Status of Bt Cotton-the Silver Sixth-in Myanmar, 2010
The new publication includes the most relevant authoritative statistics and references on Bt cotton in Myanmar, including hectarage of Bt cotton, number of Bt cotton farmers and cotton research and development.

Communication Challenges and Convergence in Crop Biotechnology
The book presents case studies that offer unique and rich examples of how countries have been able to guide through the 'drama' of crop biotechnology as they shepherd innovations from the laboratory, greenhouse trials, multi-location trials, and hopefully to farmers' fields.

GM Approval Database
An easy to use database of Biotech/GM crop approvals for various biotechnology stakeholders. It features the Biotech/GM crop events and traits that have been approved for commercialization and planting and/or for import for food and feed use with a short description of the crop and the trait.

Biotechnology Information Directory

Search thru over 500 links to research institutes, universities, companies, sources of biotech information and other directories specific to agricultural biotechnology and related fields.

Directory Search:

Crop Biotechnology Events

A list of meetings, courses and workshops related to crop biotechnology world-wide.