2010 ISAAA Annual Report on GM Crops - 10% Growth, China and Brazil

On 23 February 2011 Reuters published the annual statistics compiled by ISAAA on gene modified (GM) crops around the world.  The latest statistics compiled for 2009 are:

* Over the previous year, the planting of GM crops around the world increased 10%.

* About 10 % of total global cropland is being planted to GM crops.  Approximately 48% of this acreage is in the developing world.

* Brazil was the fastest country to adopt GM crops in 2009.  Most of this growth was in HT soybeans.

* The United States remained the largest producer of GM crops, increasing its production by 4% in 2009.

* China's acreage planted to GM crops dropped 5% comparing 2008 to 2009.  However, the government of China has been field testing a variety of new crops including GM wheat, soybeans, potato, cabbage, papaya, and melon.

* Pakistan, Myanmar and Sweden planted GM crops for the first time in 2009.

For more see: Gillam, Carey.  "Global planting of biotech crops jumps 10 percent!" Reuters, 23 February 2011.