Biotech Updates

USDA FAS Releases GAIN Reports on Agri-biotech for Several Countries

August 19, 2015

USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) released the Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) Reports on Agricultural Biotechnology for several countries. Here are the some highlights of the reports:

  • Canada's GM crops planting is estimated at 10.1 million hectares for 2015, wherein the major crops being planted are canola, corn, soybeans and small area for sugar beets which was added recently.
  • In Mexico, GE seeds are planted to about 95 percent of the area dedicated to cotton. The Confederation of Mexican Cotton Associations (CMCA) reported that pesticide use has decreased by half since the planting of GE seeds, and at the same time, yields have increased significantly.
  • South Africa continues to be the largest grower of GE crops in Africa, and the 9th largest producer of GE crops globally. Three GE events were approved for general release in 2014, and 25 field and clinical trials were also authorized in the same year, including trials of drought tolerant corn.
  • Honduras allows commercial production and field testing of GM crops. Stacked events are currently in semi-commercial and commercial stages.
  • Vietnam approved three GM corn varieties for commercial planting in 2015, making it the 29th country to commercialize biotech crops in the world.

Read the recently released GAIN Reports from USDA FAS: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Caribbean Basin, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Ethiopia, EU, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Mozambique, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Poland, Romania, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Taiwan, Tunisia, UK, Venezuela, and Vietnam.