Biotech Crops Poised for Second Wave of Growth
robust 2008 and bolstered by increased political will to meet food demands,
are poised for a second wave of strong adoption that will drive sustained
global growth through the end of the second decade of commercialization 2006
to 2015, according to the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-
Biotech Applications (ISAAA).
An additional 1.3 million farmers planted 10.7 million new hectares of
biotech crops in three new countries in 2008, according to the ISAAA brief
Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops 2008. ISAAA has been tracking
global biotech crop adoption trends since 1996.
In its annual study, ISAAA found that 13.3 million farmers in a record 25
countries planted 125 million hectares of biotech crops last year, the sixth
largest growth spurt in 13 years of reporting. The 2 billionth cumulative
acre of biotech crops also was planted in 2008, just three years after the
first billionth acre, a milestone which required a decade to reach.
Most notably, in 2008 biotech farming began in the African nations of
crops as it has perhaps the greatest need and most to gain. In 2008,
planted 700 hectares of Bt maize and
cotton. They join
cotton, maize and soybean.
“Future growth prospects are encouraging,” said
founder of ISAAA and author of the report. “The positive experiences in these
new regional footholds in south, north and west
for neighboring countries to learn by example. Additionally, political leaders
globally are increasingly viewing biotech enhanced crops as a key part of the
solution to critical social issues of food security and sustainability.”
For example, G-8 leaders in 2008 for the first time recognized the
significance of biotech crops and called to “accelerate research and
development and increase access to new agricultural technologies to boost
agriculture production; we will promote science-based risk analysis, including
on the contribution of seed varieties developed through biotechnology.”
The European Union also has acknowledged that biotech crops “can play an
important role in mitigating the effects of the food crises.”
In
to rely on big science and technology measures, rely on biotechnology, rely on
GM.” As a result,
years for continued research and development. Biotech rice alone, already
developed and field tested in
availability and net income by about
million people in the country.
“Biotech crops make two important contributions to global food security,”
James said. “First, they increase yields, which increase food availability and
supply. Second, they reduce production costs, which will also ultimately help
reduce food prices. With 9.2 billion people to be fed by 2050, biotechnology
plays a crucial role in helping satisfy the growing demand.”
Further, biotechnology is beginning to identify solutions to the growing
challenges with drought being seen in sub-Saharan Africa and
Drought is the single largest constraint to increased productivity. For
example,
a loss on their wheat crop. Drought-tolerant crops, maize in particular, are
an emerging reality with seeds expected to be commercialized in
States
By the end of the second decade of commercialization in 2015, ISAAA
predicts that four billion accumulated acres will have been planted. Further,
200 million hectares of biotech crops annually will be planted in a total of
40 countries.
Other indicators suggesting a new wave of adoption emerging include:
o Bolivia, the ninth biotech country in Latin America and the eighth
largest global producer of soybeans, planted 600,000 hectares of
herbicide-tolerant soy in 2008, allowing its growers to gain the
benefits its neighbors in Brazil and Paraguay have experienced for
years.
o There was a sharp growth in trait hectares or "virtual hectares"
with 10 countries reporting 22 million additional hectares of
biotech crops with more than one biotech trait. Stacked traits will
be a strong driver of future growth.
o A new biotech crop, herbicide-tolerant sugar beet was planted in the
United States and Canada for the first time in 2008. Nearly 258,000
hectares or 59 percent of the U.S. crop was planted to the
herbicide-tolerant variety, the highest launch adoption level ever
signaling a strong desire among growers for the technology.
o Brazil and Australia planted new biotech crops previously approved
in other countries. Brazil, the world's third largest maize
producer, planted up to 1.3 million hectares of Bt maize in 2008,
while Australia grew herbicide-tolerant canola for the first time.
o While France did not plant biotech crops in 2008, the seven other EU
countries increased their planting 21 percent to again total more
than 100,000 hectares, a milestone reached for the first time in
2007. The seven EU countries in order of biotech hectarage of Bt
maize were Spain, Czech Republic, Romania, Portugal, Germany, Poland
and Slovakia.
o The number of growers benefiting from the technology may soon jump
sharply. Initial reports from China indicate the use of Bt cotton to
control the bollworm is also suppressing the pest in other crops
like maize, wheat and vegetables, allowing a potential 10 million
additional growers to benefit from the technology.
For more information or the executive summary, log on to
http://www.isaaa.org.
The report is entirely funded by two European philanthropic organizations:
a philanthropic unit within Ibercaja, one of the largest Spanish banks
headquartered in the maize growing region of
Foundation from
crops to aid decision-making by global society.
The International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications
(ISAAA) is a not-for-profit organization with an international network of
centers designed to contribute to the alleviation of hunger and poverty by
sharing knowledge and crop biotechnology applications.
and founder of ISAAA, has lived and/or worked for the past 25 years in the
developing countries of
to agricultural research and development issues with a focus on crop
biotechnology and global food security.
Biotechnology’s Role in Sustainability
In addition to aiding in issues of food security, biotech crops have an
important role to play in lessening the environmental impact and improving the
sustainability of food production. Insect-resistant rice, for example, has the
potential to benefit about 1 billion people.
-- Biotech crops contribute to increased food availability and
affordability, increasing production by 141 million metric tons in
the 12 years, 1996 to 2007.
-- Biotech crops help conserve biodiversity by saving land. Forty-three
million additional hectares of land would have been required to
create the production gain of 141 million tonnes generated by
biotech crops. With 70 percent of the world's poorest dependent on
agriculture and with income as low as US $1 a day, biotech crops can
also contribute to economic sustainability and alleviation of
poverty. In developing nations and transforming economies,
agriculture is responsible for a substantial part of the GDP.
Increases in agriculture productivity from biotech crops are
evident, for example:
o Research in India, China, South Africa and the Philippines
shows biotech crops have already increased incomes $115 to $250
per hectare. Globally over 12 million resource poor farmers
benefited from biotech crops in 2008.
o Approval of insect-resistant rice has the potential to benefit
more than 250 million rice households in Asia, or approximately
1 billion people.
o Further, the global net economic benefit to biotech crop
farmers in 2007 alone was $10 billion ($6 billion in developing
countries and $4 billion in industrialized nations.) For the
period 1996 to 2007 the economic benefit was $44 billion,
equally divided between developing and industrial countries
-- Biotech crops have already substantially reduced agriculture's
environmental footprint by reducing pesticides, saving on fossil
fuel use and decreasing carbon dioxide emissions and soil loss
through less plowing. In particular, from 1996 to 2007 biotech crops
saved 359,000 metric tons of pesticides (active ingredient).
o The development of drought-tolerant crops also has enormous
potential to increase yield where water is limiting.
Approximately 70 percent of the world's fresh water is used for
agricultural purposes. Importantly drought tolerant maize is
expected to be available in the US in 2012, or earlier, and in
Sub Sahara Africa by 2017.
-- The environmental benefits associated with biotech crops have also
helped reduce greenhouse gases. In 2007 alone, carbon dioxide
savings were 14.2 billion kg, equivalent to removing 6.3 million
cars from the road.
SOURCE International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications
(ISAAA)