ISAAA Brief 32-2004: Press Release
Worldwide Biotech Crops Experience Near Record Growth
Biotech crop area increases 11 percent in United States
MANILA, Philippines (Jan. 12, 2005) — Biotech crops experienced the
second highest hectarage growth on record in 2004 to reach 81million hectares
(200 million acres). According to a report released today, authored by Clive James
chairman and founder of the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech
Applications (ISAAA), global area for biotech crops grew 20 percent in 2004 — an
increase of 13.3 million hectares (32.9 million acres).
The study reported that approximately 8.25 million farmers in 17 countries
planted biotech crops in 2004 — 1.25 million more farmers than planted biotech
crops in 18 countries in 2003. Notably, 90 percent of these farmers were in
developing countries. In fact, for the first time, the absolute growth in biotech crop
area was higher in developing countries (7.2 million hectares) than in industrial
countries (6.1 million hectares).
“The continued rapid adoption, especially among small, resource-poor
farmers, is a testament to the economic, environmental, health and social benefits
realized by farmers and society in both industrial and developing countries,”
said Clive James. “Further, in 2004, we continued to see a broadening base of
support for biotech crops as many of the countries participating in biotech crop
production significantly increased biotech crop hectarage.”
The number of “biotech mega-countries” (countries growing 50,000 hectares
or more biotech crops) increased from 10 to 14 in 2004 with the addition of Paraguay,
Mexico, Spain and the Philippines reflecting the participation of a broader group of
countries adopting biotech crops. The number of countries accounting for the
majority of the global total of biotech crop area grew from five to eight and included
the United States (59 percent of the global total), Argentina (20 percent), Canada
(6 percent), Brazil (6 percent), China (5 percent), Paraguay (2 percent), India
(1 percent) and South Africa (1 percent). In addition to Mexico, Spain and the
Philippines, Uruguay, Australia and Romania complete the mega-country list.
In the United States, farmers planted 47.6 million hectares of biotech crops, up
11 percent from 2003 and comprising 59 percent of the global total of biotech crops. Continued
growth was a result of significant acreage gains in biotech corn varieties and continued increases
in herbicide-tolerant soybeans, with modest growth in biotech cotton as the adoption rate approached
80 percent in 2004.
This continued adoption signals a strong vote of confidence in the benefits of biotech
crops from farmers around the world, particularly those in developing countries. Edwin Paraluman,
a Filipino farmer, said the increased production from biotech corn, approved in late 2003, has
already helped him better care for his family.
“I have a small house and my daughter is always telling me, ‘Papa, please expand our
house,’” he said. “With biotech corn my yields doubled from 3.5 tons to 7 tons per hectare,
helping me earn enough money to meet my daughter’s wishes.”
Results like Mr. Paraluman’s helped account for a 35 percentage increase in the biotech
crop area in developing nations, as compared to the 13 percent growth in industrial countries. For
the first time, developing countries accounted for more than one-third of the global biotech crop
area. James says five key developing countries — China, India, Argentina, Brazil and South Africa — will significantly impact the global adoption and acceptance of biotech crops in the future.
“The early promise of biotechnology has been fulfilled,” James said. “Biotech crops are now poised to enter a new era of momentum that will stimulate growth well in to the future.”
Approval of two biotech maize varieties for import to the European Union and continued
signs of progress in China contribute to this optimism. China is likely to approve Bt rice in the
near-term probably in 2005, which would usher adoption of the most significant food crop in the
world and have a major impact on the acceptance of biotech food, feed and fiber crops worldwide.
By the end of the decade, ISAAA predicts up to 15 million farmers will grow biotech
crops on 150 million hectares in up to 30 countries.
The executive summary of the report, which was sponsored by Fondazione Bussolera Branca
of Italy and The Rockefeller Foundation of the United States, can be accessed at www.isaaa.org.