ERS Releases Latest Trends in GM Crop Adoption in the US

The Economic Research Service (ERS) of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) released an update on the recent trends in the adoption of genetically engineered (GE) crops in the US. Commercial planting of GE crops started in the US in 1996. The adoption rates of GE seeds increased rapidly in the succeeding years. Most of the GE crops are classified as herbicide tolerant (HT), insect resistant (Bt), or stacks (a combination of Bt and HT). Other GE traits have been introduced, but HT and Bt traits have been the most popular for US growers.

The key points in the 2023 trends include:

• Over 90% of the US maize, cotton (upland), and soybeans are GE varieties.
• The majority of the GE acres are planted with maize, cotton, and soybeans.
• HT soybean acreage stood at 95% in 2023, 94% for HT cotton, and 91% for HT maize.
• Bt maize acreage reached 85% in 2023 and 89% for Bt cotton.
• Approximately 86% of the cotton acres and 82% of the maize acres are stacks.

Visit USDA ERS for more information.