Expansionary Institute

Michael Zey
futurist3000@aol.com

Area planted with GM crops globally said growing

 
MANILA, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Genetically modified crops are expanding globally, with the estimated total area of 44.2 million hectares planted with such crops this year equivalent to almost twice the area of Britain.

The total area planted to GM crops this year is 11 percent higher from 39.9 million hectares last year, the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications (ISAAA) said.

"To put this global area of transgenic crops into context, 44.2 million hectares is equivalent to almost twice the area of the United Kingdom," ISAAA said.

ISAAA is an independent agency tracking the use of biotech crops. Its estimate of the total area planted with GM crops is contained in its study called "Global Review of Commercialised Transgenic Crops:2000."

The executive summary of the study was released by the South East Asia centre of ISAAA based in Los Banos, Laguna near Manila, on Tuesday.

"This figure of 44.2 million hectares of genetically improved crops represents a 25-fold increase in five years, from the 1.7 million hectares planted in 1996," ISAAA said.

"This adoption rate of biotech crops is the highest for any new technology by agricultural industry standards," it said.

ISAAA chairman Clive James said the growing area of GM crops worldwide "reflects the growing acceptance of transgenic crops by farmers using the technology in both industrial and developing countries."

"During the five-year period 1996-2000, the number of countries growing transgenic crops more than doubled, from six in 1996 to nine in 1998 to 12 in 1999 and now 13 in 2000," he added.

"The figures indicate that over the last five years a cumulative total of over 125 mha (million hectares) of genetically improved crops have been planted globally."

13 COUNTRIES PLANT GM CROPS

ISAAA said 13 countries planted GM crops this year, with the inclusion of Uruguay, from 12 last year.

"One additional country, Uruguay, reported the commercialisation of transgenic crops for the first time in 2000, growing a small area, 3,000 hectares, of herbicide tolerant soybean," the report said.

Besides Uruguay, other countries where GM crops are planted include the United States, Argentina, Canada, China, South Africa, Australia, Romania, Mexico, Bulgaria, Spain, Germany and France.

Ukraine, which grew transgenic potatoes in 1999, "has not confirmed any transgenic hectarage for 2000."

There was also no report this year of GM crop planting in Portugal, which planted BT corn in 1999, ISAAA said.

The top four growers of GM crops this year are the United States, Argentina, Canada and China.

ISAAA said the four countries accounted for 99 percent of the global GM crops grown this year.

"The U.S. grew 30.3 mha (million hectares) followed by Argentina with 10 mha, Canada with three mha and China with 0.5 mha," it said.

"In percentage terms, the US grew 68 percent of the global transgenic crop, followed by Argentina with 23 percent, Canada with seven percent and China with one percent."

05:11 12-19-00

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