*EPF410 06/17/2004
Fact Sheet: USAID Fact Sheet on Global Use of Biotechnology
(More developing countries planting biotech crops, agency says) (420)

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has issued a series of six fact sheets outlining the key issues related to products derived from modern biotechnology.

The second fact sheet focuses on the increasing use of agricultural biotechnology by farmers in both rich and developing countries.

Following is the text of the second fact sheet:

(begin fact sheet)

U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
June 2004

BRIEF 2

GENETICALLY ENGINEERED (GE) CROPS: A RAPIDLY EXPANDING MARKET

ADOPTION IS GROWING

-- 1996 to 2003, the global area of transgenic crops has increased 40-fold, from 1.7 million hectares (mha) in 1996 to 67.7 mha in 2003. These were grown by 7 million farmers in 18 countries.

-- In 2003, six principal countries (USA, Argentina, Canada, Brazil, China, and South Africa) grew 99 percent of the global transgenic crop area. The top 6 countries included 4 developing countries and 2 industrial countries.

-- Recently, two new countries, India and the Philippines, joined the global group of countries that are growing genetically engineered crops.

Countries growing GM crops in 2003

50,000 hectares, or more Less than 50,000 hectares

USA, 42.8 million Spain

Argentina, 13.9 million Mexico

Canada, 4.4 million Philippines

Brasil, 3.0 million Colombia

China, 2.8 million Bulgaria

South Africa, 0.4 million Honduras

Australia, 0.10 million Germany

India, 0.10 million Indonesia

Romania, >0.05 million

Uruguay, >0.05 million

Developing countries increasingly adopt genetically engineered crops. In 2003, more than one quarter of the global transgenic area was grown in developing countries. [Illustration not reproduced] shows the area of GE crops in industrial and developing countries from 1996-2003. Developing countries account for an increasing proportion of the total area planted to GE crops worldwide, increasing from 14 percent in 1997 to 30 percent in 2003.

IMPORTANT GE CROPS IN 2003

-- Herbicide-tolerant soybean was the dominant transgenic crop, grown commercially in seven countries in 2003 (USA, Argentina, Canada, Mexico, Romania, Uruguay and South Africa).

-- Insect-resistant maize was the second most dominant crop, planted in nine countries (USA, Canada, Argentina, South Africa, Spain, Philippines, Honduras, Uruguay and Germany).

-- Herbicide-tolerant canola was the third most dominant crop, planted in two countries, Canada and the USA.

-- Bt cotton is increasingly important in countries such as China, India, and South Africa.

Sources:

James, C. 2003. Preview: Global Status of Commercialized Transgenic Crops: 2003. ISAAA Brief No. 30. Ithaca, NY.

(end fact sheet)

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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