Global Status

Distribution of Transgenic Crops, by Trait

During the nine-year period 1996 to 2004, herbicide tolerance has consistently been the dominant trait with insect resistance being second. In 2004, herbicide tolerance, deployed in soybean, maize canola and cotton, occupied 72% of the 81.0 million hectares. There were 15.6 million hectares planted to Bt crops, equivalent to 19%, with stacked genes for herbicide tolerance and insect resistance deployed in both cotton and maize occupying 9% of the global biotech area in 2004. It is noteworthy that whereas the area of herbicide tolerant crops increased by a significant 18% (8.9 million hectares) Bt crops increased at a higher level of 28% (3.4 million hectares) between 2003 and 2004. This increase in Bt crops reflects the significant increase in Bt maize in 2004 (2.0 million hectares) and the increase of Bt cotton (1.4 million hectares) in China, India and Australia. Whereas most of the growth in Bt maize occurred in the USA, significant increases in Bt maize hectarage also occurred in Argentina, Canada, South Africa, Spain, and the Philippines. The stacked traits of herbicide tolerance and insect resistance in both maize and cotton increased by 17% in 2004, reflecting the needs of farmers who have to simultaneously address the multiple yield constraints associated with various biotic stresses - this trend will continue and intensify as more traits become available to farmers and is an important feature of the technology.

Global Area of Biotech Crops, 1996 to 2004: By Trait (Million Hectares)
Country
 
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
(mha)
Herbicide Tolerance
0.6
6.9
19.8
28.1
32.7
40.6
44.2
49.7
58.6
Insect Resistance (Bt)
1.1
4.0
7.7
8.9
8.3
7.8
10.1
12.2
15.6
Bt/Herbicide Tolerance
--
<0.1
0.3
2.9
3.2
4.2
4.4
5.8
6.8
Virus resistance/Others
<0.1
<0.1
<0.1
<0.1
<0.1
<0.1
<0.1
<0.1
<0.1
Total
1.7
11
27.8
39.9
44.2
52.6
58.7
67.7
81.0
Source: Clive James, 2004.
 

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]
Home :: Global Status :: CBT Update :: Info Resource :: Events :: BICs :: Directory :: About Us :: Editorial Policy

Copyright © 2006. CropBiotech Net.