Biotech crops planted on 400 million acres globally in 2011

The use of biotech crops jumped 8 percent – some 30 million acres – last year to reach nearly 400 million acres planted by 16.7 million farmers in 29 countries around the world, according to a report released by the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA).

Click the chart for a larger version.

ISAAA said of those 16.7 million farmers, 15 million (90 percent) were small resource-poor farmers from developing countries. Of those, it said, 7 million small farmers in China and another 7 million small farmers in India collectively planted a record 35.8 million acres of biotech crops. It noted that Bt cotton increased the income of farmers significantly – by up to $100 per acre and also halved the number of insecticide sprays, thus reducing farmer exposure to pesticides.

Of the 400 million acres planted with biotech crops in 2011, half were planted in developing countries – and plantings in developing countries is expected to surpass developed countries this year.

Nevertheless, the United States remained the world's top producer of biotech crops, but Brazil was second and saw acres increase 20 percent last year. Other 2011 notables:

• India marked a decade of success in biotech cotton, which helped make cotton the most profitable crop in the country. 
• China adopted biotech cotton on 71.5 percent of cotton acres. "Such growth was driven by 7 million small, resource-poor farmers, who on average farm only one-half of one hectare," ISAAA said.
• Philippines reported a 20 percent increase in acres of biotech corn, planting about 1.5 million acres. The Philippines is the only country in Asia that plants biotech corn.
• Africa planted 6.2 million acres of biotech crops and is making advancements with field trials in the regulatory process for additional biotech crop countries and crops.

Last year marked the 16th year since the commercialization of biotech crops in 1996, when just 1.7 million acres were planted. ISAAA said biotech crops are the fasted adopted crop technology "in the history of modern agriculture."

While most of the crops planted are corn, soybeans, cotton and canola, there are others, including squash, papaya, alfalfa and potatoes.

The chart below shows which countries planted biotech crops, the total area planted (in hectares) and which crops. Note that 1 hectare = 2.47 acres.