Annual Global Status Report of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops Launched in Sao Paulo, Brazil

ISAAA's Annual Global Status Report of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops (Brief 42) was recently launched in Sao Paulo through webcast and a seminar in Embrapa, Brasilia. The author and founding chairman of ISAAA, Dr. Clive James dedicates the book to the 20^th Anniversary of ISAAA (1991-2010).

Dr. James highlighted the increase of 10% or 14 million hectares in 2010 as compared to 2009. There are now 15.4 million farmers planting biotech crops in 29 countries, for a global total of 148 million hectares. Pakistan, Myanmar, and Sweden joined the 19 developing and 10 developed countries planting biotech crops, and Germany resumed planting biotech crops with the Amflora potato.

He also reiterated that "developments in biotech crops contribute to some of the major challenges facing global society including: food security and self sufficiency, sustainability, alleviation of poverty and hunger, and help in mitigating some of the challenges associated with climate change and global warming."

In the two events, Dr. Anderson Galvao Gomes, Director of CELERES, presented an Overview of GM Crops in Brazil highlighting the current status of Brazil as the second largest producer of biotech crops, after the United States. The number of biotech crop approvals has increased in the past few years owing to the acceptance of the farmers and consumers as well as the enabling support of government policies.

The ISAAA Brief 42 Highlights, Executive Summary, Press Release and selected slides can be found at http://www.isaaa.org.