For the first time since the introduction of biotech/GM crops almost two
decades ago, developing countries have grown more hectares of biotech
crops than industrialized countries, contributing to food security and
further alleviating poverty in some of the world's most vulnerable
regions.
Developing nations planted 52 percent of the global biotech crops in
2012, up from 50 percent a year earlier and above the 48 percent
industrial countries grew last year, according to a report released
today by the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech
Applications (ISAAA).
Last year also marked an unprecedented 100-fold increase in biotech crop
hectarage to 170 million hectares from 1.7 million in 1996, when biotech
crops were first commercialized. "This makes biotech crops the fastest
adopted crop technology in recent history," said Clive James, veteran
author of the annual report and chair and founder of ISAAA.
Adoption of biotech crops in developing countries has built up steadily
over the years, finally turning the corner and surpassing industrial
countries in 2012, a milestone once thought impossible by some, James
said. This comes about as the world grows more biotech crops than ever
before.
"This growth is contrary to the prediction of critics, who prior to the
commercialization of the technology in 1996 prematurely declared that
biotech crops were only for industrial countries, and would never be
accepted and adopted by developing countries," James said.
The report underscores rising awareness in developing countries about
the benefits of planting genetically modified crops, which not only have
increased yields, but also bring savings in fuel, time and machinery,
reduction in pesticide use, higher quality of product and more growing
cycles.
From 1996 to 2011, biotech crops contributed to food security,
sustainability, and climate change by: increasing crop production valued
at US$98.2 billion; providing a better environment by saving 473 million
kg a.i. of pesticides; in 2011 alone reducing CO2 emissions
by 23 billion kg, equivalent to taking 10.2 million cars off the road;
conserving biodiversity by saving 108.7 million hectares of land; and
helped alleviate poverty by helping >15.0 million small farmers and
their families totaling >50 million people who are some of the poorest
people in the world. Biotech crops are essential but are not a panacea
and adherence to good farming practices such as rotations and resistance
management, are a must for biotech crops as they are for conventional
crops.
Unprecedented Growth
Globally, farmers grew a record 170.3 million hectares of biotech crops
in 2012, up 6 percent, or 10.3 million hectares more than in 2011,
boosting farmers' income worldwide due to enhanced productivity and
efficiency gains.
"There is one principal and overwhelming reason that underpins the trust
and confidence of farmers in biotechnology: biotech crops deliver
substantial, and sustainable, socio-economic and environmental
benefits," James said.
Resource-Poor Farmers Benefit the Most
ISAAA's report also confirmed that the rate and scale of biotech crop
adoption in developing countries dwarfs that of industrialized nations.
The growth rate for biotech crops was at least three times as fast, and
five times as large, in developing countries, at 11 percent or 8.7
