Global Status

In 2004, the global area of biotech crops continued to grow for the ninth consecutive year at a sustained double-digit growth rate of 20%, compared with 15% in 2003. The estimated global area of biotech crops for 2004 was 81.0 million hectares, grown by 8.25 million framers in 17 countries – a significant increase over 2003 when 67.7 million hectares was grown by 7.0 million farmers in 18 countries. Paraguay reported approved biotech soybean for the first time in 2004/05 whilst Bulgaria and Indonesia did not report biotech crops because permits had expired. To put the 2004 global area of biotech crops into context, 81.0 million hectares is equivalent to over 8% of the total land area of China (956 million hectares) or the USA (981 million hectares) and more than three times the land area of the United Kingdom (24.4 million hectares). The increase in area between 2003 and 2004 of 20 % is equivalent to 13.3 million hectares or 32.9 million acres. The 2004 increase of 13.3 million hectares is the second highest annual increase of biotech crops on record.

USDA Photo

Related Topics:

1. Global Area of Biotech Crops
2. Distribution of Biotech Crops in Industrial and Developing Countries
3. Distribution of Biotech Crops, by Country
4. Distribution of Biotech Crops, by Crop
5. Distribution of Biotech Crops, by Trait
6. Dominant Biotech Crops
7. Global Adoption of Biotech Soybean, Maize, Cotton and Canola
8. The Global Value of the Biotech Crop Market

Summary Report on the Global Status of Biotech/GM Crops - [View the 2004 report]

Transgenic Crops - [Click Here]

Extensive Study on Bt Cotton - [Click Here]

Download the complete copy of the ISAAA Briefs on Global Status/Review of GM Crops - [Click Here]

SciDev.Net's dossier on GM crops - [Click here]

Global Status of Approved Genetically Modified Plants -  [Click here]

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