Abstract

Reference: ISAAA 2002a
Title: Global Review of Commercialized Transgenic Crops: 2001 Feature: Bt Cotton.
Authors: James, C.
Publisher: International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications,  ISAAA SEAsiaCenter c/o IRRI DAPO Box 7777, Metro Manila, Philippines
Publication details: ISAAA Briefs No. 26. 2002.

A review of the global status of commercialized transgenic crops has been published annually by ISAAA since 1997. This report summarizes the status and trends of commercial transgenic crops in 2001.  In 2001 global area of transgenic or GM crops was 52.6 million hectares or 130 million acres, grown in thirteen countries by about 5 million farmers, over 75% of whom were small resource-poor farmers in developing countries. The US was the largest grower of GM crops (68%), with one quarter of the GM crop area grown in the developing countries, principally in Argentina and China.  The principal GM crops were soybean, corn, cotton and canola.

The feature on Bt cotton, provides a global overview of the cotton crop and a consolidated set of data that will facilitate a knowledge-based discussion of the current and potential benefits that Bt cotton offers. Eight country case studies are presented for the USA, Australia, China, India, Mexico, Argentina, South Africa and Indonesia, which provide detailed and current information on all aspects of the cultivation, adoption and performance of Bt cotton. 

All the countries that have introduced Bt cotton have derived significant and multiple benefits.  These include increases in yield, decreased production costs, a reduction of at least 50% in insecticide applications, resulting in substantial environmental and health benefits to small producers, and significant economic and social benefits.  On a global basis, the benefits from the deployment of Bt cotton between 1998 and 2001 were estimated to be $1.7 billion.  About 5 million farmers benefited from Bt cotton in 2001, most of them small resource-poor farmers in developing countries, mainly in China and also in South Africa where Bt cotton contributed to the reduction in poverty by increasing incomes of small farmers.

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