commercialized in 1996.

highest rates of crop technology adoption in agriculture

Source: Clive James, 2004.
year since biotech crops were first 2004 (Figure 1). This rate of adoption is one of the
double-digit growth rates every 1.7 million hectares in 1996 to 81.0 million hectares in
2004.
32.9 million acres between 2003 and
plantings of biotech crops by fold during the nine-year period from 1996 to 2004, from
Increase of 20%, 13.3 million hectares or by consistently increasing their The global area of biotech crops increased more than 47
confidence in crop biotechnology
951.3 384.6 TOTAL signaled their strong vote of
million farmers. Farmers have
200.0 81.0 2004 Source: Clive James, 2004.
accumulatively, by about 25
167.2 67.7 2003 acres) has been successfully grown,
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 to the alleviation of poverty.
million acres (almost 1 billion 0
145.0 58.7 2002 incomes from biotech crops contributed
total of 385 million hectares or 951 developing countries, whose increased
10
130.0 52.6 2001 1996 to 2004, an accumulated whom were resource-poor farmers from
In summary, during the period 20
109.2 44.2 2000 million farmers in 17 countries, 90% of
30 were grown by approximately 8.25
98.6 39.9 1999 1999, to 17 in 2004. of 13.3 mha (see Figure 1). Biotech crops
40
to 9 in 1998, to 12 countries in digit growth rate of 20%, or an increase
69.5 27.8 1998 50
period, increasing from 6 in 1999 crops, representing a sustained double-
27.5 11.0 1997 tripled during the same nine-year 60 million hectares (mha) planted to biotech
of countries growing biotech crops 70 crops. The year saw a total of 81.0
4.3 1.7 1996
developing countries. The number genetically modified (GM) or biotech
80 decade of the commercialization of
(Million) (Million) farmers in both industrial and
acceptance of biotech crops by 90 2004 is the penultimate year of the first
Acres Hectares
and reflects the growing Biotech/GM Crops in 2004
Crops, 1996 to 2004 2004 (Million Hectares) Global Status of Commercialized
Table 1.Global Area of Biotech Figure 1. Global Area of Biotech Crops, 1996 to

The Global Value of Biotech Crops affluent populations. A similar trend may
Pocket
Pocket Ks are Pockets of Knowledge,

In 2004, the global market value of biotech
crops was $4.70 billion, representing 15%
of the $32.5 billion global crop protection
market in 2003, and 16% of the $30
billion global commercial seed market.
The market value was based on the sale
price of biotech seed and any technology
fees that applied. For 2005, the global
value of the biotech crop market is
projected at $5 million or more.
Future Prospects
On a global basis, there is cause for
cautious optimism, with the global area
and the number of farmers planting biotech
crops expected to continue to grow in
2005 and beyond. The global number and
proportion of small farmers from develop-
ing countries growing biotech crops is
expected to increase significantly to meet
their food/feed crop requirements and meat
demands of their burgeoning and more
K
also apply to the poorer and more
agriculturally based countries of Eastern packaged information on crop
Europe, which have recently joined the biotechnology products and related
EU, and those expected to join in 2007 issues available at your fingertips. They
No. 16
are produced by the Global Knowledge
and beyond. There were also signs of
Center on Crop Biotechnology
progress in the European Union in 2004,
(http://www.isaaa.org/kc). For more
with the EU Commission approving, for
information, please contact the
import, two events in biotech maize (Bt 11 International Service for the Acquisition
and NK603), and 17 maize varieties, with of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA)
insect resistance conferred by MON 810, SEAsiaCenter c/o IRRI, DAPO Box 7777,
for food and feed. Taking all factors into Metro Manila, Philippines.
account, the outlook for 2010 points to Tel: +63 2 8450563 Global Status
continued growth in the global hectarage Fax: +63 2 8450606
of Commercialized
of biotech crops, up to 150 million E-mail: knowledge.center@isaaa.org
hectares, with up to 15 million farmers
First Printing, January 2005
Biotech/GM Crops
growing biotech crops in up to 30
countries. in 2004
Reference
James, C. 2004. Preview: Global Status of INTERNATIONAL SERVICE
Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops: FOR THE ACQUISITION Global Knowledge Center
OF AGRI-BIOTECH
2004. ISAAA Briefs No. 32. Ithaca, NY APPLICATIONS on Crop Biotechnology
Distribution of Biotech Crops in Industrial and Developing Countries Distribution of Biotech Crops, Table 2. Global Area of Biotech Crops in
2003 and 2004: by Country
by Country (Million Hectares)
Figure 2 shows the relative area Figure 2. Global Area of Biotech Crops, 1996 to
Country 2003 2004
of biotech crops in industrial and 2004: Industrial and Developing There were 14 countries planting 50,000 hectares
developing countries from 1996-
Countries (Million Hectares) or more to biotech crops in 2004 (See Table 2). USA* 42.8 47.6
2004. In 2004, more than one These mega-countries included the USA, Argentina* 13.9 16.2
third of the global biotech crop Argentina, Canada, Brazil, China, Paraguay, Canada* 4.4 5.4
area, equivalent to 27.6 million 60
India, South Africa, Uruguay, Australia, Romania,
Industrial Brazil* 3.0 5.0
hectares, was grown in Mexico, Spain, and the Philippines, reflecting a China* 2.8 3.7
developing countries. While a 50 Developing more balanced and stabilized participation of a Paraguay* –– 1.2
substantial share (66%) is grown broader group of countries adopting biotech
40 India* 0.1 0.5
in industrial countries, the crops. South Africa* 0.4 0.5
proportion of biotech crops 30 Uruguay* 0.1 0.3
grown in developing countries India had the highest percentage year-on-year Australia* 0.1 0.2
has increased consistently every 20
growth in 2004, with an increase of 400% in Bt Romania* <0.1 0.1
year, with continued strong cotton area over 2003, followed by Uruguay Mexico* <0.1 0.1
10
growth reported by China, India, (200%), Australia (100%), Brazil (66%), China Spain* <0.1 0.1
and the Philippines in Asia; as 0 (32%), South Africa (25%), Canada (23%), Philippines* <0.1 0.1
well as by Argentina, Brazil, and 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Argentina (17%), and the USA at 11%. Colombia <0.1 <0.1
Mexico, plus Uruguay and Honduras <0.1 <0.1
Paraguay in Latin America; and Source: Clive James, 2004. In 2004, for the first time, Paraguay reported 1.2 Germany <0.1 <0.1
South Africa on the African million hectares of biotech soybean, equivalent
continent. The percentage growth TOTAL 67.7 81.0
to 60% of its national soybean hectarage of 2
was almost three times as high (35%) in the developing countries of the South, compared to that million hectares. Bulgaria and Indonesia did not Source: Clive James, 2004.
of the industrial countries of the North (13%). * Biotech mega-countries which grew more than
report biotech maize and cotton, respectively in
50,000 hectares, or more, of biotech crops in 2004.
2004 due to expiry of permits.

Dominant Biotech Crops in 2004

Herbicide tolerant soybean continued
to be the dominant biotech crop in
2004, occupying 48.4 mha, and
representing 60% of the global
biotech crop area of 81.0 mha for all
crops (Table 3). It was grown
Table 3. Dominant Biotech Crops in 2004 percentage of the respective global areas Figure 3. Biotech Crop Area as % of
Million
of the four principal crops – soybean, Global Area of Principal
% Biotech cotton, canola, and maize – in which
Hectares Crops, 2004 (Million Hectares)
transgenic technology is utilized.
Herbicide tolerant Soybean 48.4 60%
Bt Maize 11.2 14% The data in Figure 3 indicate that in 160

commercially in the USA, Argentina, Bt Cotton 4.5 6% 2004, 56% of the 86 million hectares of 140 Non-transgenic 143

Brazil, Paraguay, Canada, Uruguay, Herbicide tolerant Maize 4.3 5% soybean planted globally were biotech - 120 Transgenic
Romania, South Africa, and Mexico. Herbicide tolerant Canola 4.3 5% up from 55% in 2003, despite an 100
Bt/Herbicide tolerant Maize 3.8 4% increase in the global area of soybean 86
Bt/Herbicide tolerant Cotton 3.0 4% 80
The second most dominant crop was from 76 million hectares in 2003 to 86
Herbicide tolerant Cotton 1.5 2% 60
Bt maize, which occupied 11.2 mha, million hectares in 2004. Of the 32
equivalent to 14% of the global TOTAL 81.0 100% million hectares of cotton, 28% or 9.0 40 32
23
biotech crop area. It was grown Source: Clive James, 2004. million hectares were planted to biotech 20
commercially in the USA, Argentina, cotton in 2004. The area planted to 0
Canada, South Africa, Spain, the biotech canola, expressed on a 56% 28% 19% 14%
Philippines, Uruguay, Honduras, and Colombia. This is equivalent to 6% of the percentage basis, increased from 16% in Soybean Cotton Canola Maize
Germany. global biotech area. 2003 to 19% or 4.3 million hectares of
canola planted globally in 2004. Source: Clive James, 2004.
The third most dominant crop was Bt Global Adoption of Biotech Soybean, Similarly, of the 143 million hectares of
cotton, which was grown over 4.5 million Maize, Cotton, and Canola maize planted in 2004, 14% was of these four crops are aggregated, the total
hectares in eight countries, listed in order Another way to provide a global perspective planted to biotech maize, up area is 284 million hectares, of which
of hectarage; China, India, Australia, USA, of the status of biotech crops is to significantly from 11% in 2003. If the 29%, were biotech - up significantly from
Mexico, Argentina, South Africa, and characterize the global adoption rates as a global areas (conventional and biotech) 25% in 2003.