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Biotech crops experienced the second highest growth on record in 2004, increasing 13.3 million hectares (32.9 million acres) from 2003, equivalent to a 20 percent growth rate.
- Eighty-one million hectares or 200 million acres of biotech crops were planted in 2004, up from 67.7 million hectares or 167 million acres in 2003.
- 8.25 million farmers in 17 countries planted biotech crops in 2004, up from 7 million farmers in 18 countries last year. Notably, 90 percent of those farmers were in developing countries.
- In the first nine years of commercialization, the accumulated acreage of biotech crops planted reached 385 million hectares, close to an impressive 1 billion acres.
- Growth continued in all four biotech crops in 2004 with biotech soybean occupying the greatest global area. Biotech maize and cotton experienced the greatest percentage growth rates, up 25 percent each.
The number of countries growing a substantial acreage of biotech crops (50,000 hectares or more), known as mega countries, grew from 10 to 14 in 2004, indicating a continued widening base of support for biotech crops.
- Paraguay, Mexico, Spain and the Philippines joined the other mega-countries planting 50,000 hectares or more of biotech crops, including the United States, Argentina, Canada, Brazil, China, India, South Africa, Uruguay, Australia and Romania.
- The United States planted 47.6 million hectares of biotech crops, up 11 percent from 2003 to account for 59 percent of the global total of biotech crops.
- Argentina contributed 16.2 million hectares, 17 percent above 2003 and 20 percent of the global total.
- Canada grew 5.4 million hectares of biotech crops for 6 percent of the global total, up 23 percent from 2003.
- Brazil planted 5 million acres to account for 6 percent of the global total, up 66 percent over 2003.
- China grew 3.7 million hectares of biotech cotton, an increase of 32 percent above 2003 and 5 percent of the global total of biotech crops.
- Paraguay reported biotech soybeans for the first time in 2004, reaching 1.2 million hectares or 2 percent of the global total.
- India experienced the highest year-on-year growth with a 400 percent increase in biotech cotton acreage for a total of 500,000 hectares, up from approx 100,000 hectares in 2003.
- South Africa planted about 500,000 hectares of biotech crops, up 25 percent from last year and 1 percent of the total global acreage.
- Uruguay, Australia, Romania, Mexico, Spain and the Philippines round out the list of mega-countries, planting 50,000 hectares or more; another three countries each plant up to 50,000 hectares.
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- Spain remained the only country in the European Union to plant a significant acreage of biotech crops with 58,000 hectares of Bt maize, an increase of 80 percent from last year.
For the first time, biotech crop hectarage in developing countries grew faster than developed countries, further indicating the important economic, health and social benefits realized by small resource-poor farmers.
- The absolute area for biotech crop acreage in developing countries grew 7.2 million hectares, more than a million hectares above the 6.1 million hectare growth in the industrialized world. The percentage growth was almost three times higher for developing countries (35 percent) vs. the industrialized nations (13 percent).
- Eleven developing countries grew biotech crops in 2004, nearly double the number of industrialized countries (six) growing the crops.
- The 11 developing countries accounted for more than one-third of the biotech crop area, or 27.6 million hectares, for the first time.
- In fact, five key developing countries - China, India, Argentina, Brazil and South Africa - are expected to have a significant impact on the adoption and acceptance of biotech crops globally.
Biotech crops are poised to enter a new area of growth and momentum that will stimulate adoption well into the future.
- There is cautious optimism the global area and the number of farmers planting biotech crops will continue to grow in 2005 and beyond.
- The global number and proportion of small farmers from developing countries growing biotech crops is expected to increase significantly to meet their growing food/feed requirements.
- China is likely to approve Bt rice in the year ahead which will provide a tremendous stimulus for adoption of biotech food, feed and fiber crops worldwide.
- Signs of progress in the European Union with approval of new biotech varieties for planting opens up new opportunities for EU member countries to benefit from commercialization of biotech maize.
- By 2010, ISAAA predicts up to 15 million farmers will grow biotech crops on 150 million hectares in up to 30 countries.
*One hectare equals 2.47 acres.
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