Corn Growers Encouraged by Global Advancement of Biotechnology Crops (1-17-06)

Responding to a survey demonstrating that the United States continues to be a dominant factor in the planting of biotech crops, National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) Biotech Working Group Chairman Martin Barbre said today U.S. farmers understand the many benefits this technology offers and are setting examples for the rest of the world.

The annual survey, conducted by the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA), indicated global biotech acreage reached 55 percent, or 123 million acres, in 2005. The biotech crops included corn, soybeans, cotton, canola, squash and papaya. ISAAA said four more countries and 250,000 more farmers planted biotech crops in 2005-- an 11 percent increase from 2004.

Barbre noted the world will continue to see an increase in biotech crops and acreages as technological advances bring benefits to producers and consumers alike. “Biotechnology products have been beneficial and profitable for farmers in the U.S. and other countries members, giving us additional tools in the toolbox,” he said. “We are also encouraged that many of the future traits will have benefits for end users as well.”

According to the survey, since initial commercialization in 1996, global biotech crop planting areas have “soared by more than fifty-fold from 4.2 million acres in six countries to 222 million acres in 21 countries in 2005. The 8.5 million farmers planting biotech crops in 2005 also marked a significant milestone as the 1 billionth cumulative acre, or 400 millionth hectare, was planted.”

“In 2005, U.S. corn growers planted more than 42 million acres of corn using biotech seeds,” Barbre said. “As more and more growers around the world recognize the many benefits of biotechnology crops, we may see an even higher increase in the coming years. “As the biotech industry develops new traits for corn, producers, the environment, and consumers will see the benefits.”

Barbre noted corn growers continue to make decisions on biotechnology usage based on their agronomic needs and market preferences. Acknowledging that biotechnology may not be the correct fit for every producer, Barbre said NCGA’s goal is to give growers the tools necessary to make informed decisions.

Other countries planting biotechnology crops include Argentina, which accounted for 19 percent of the total. Brazil was third with 10 percent. Iran along with the Czech Republic tried biotech crops for the first time in 2005. Portugal and France, which had stopped growing the crops in the late 1990s, resumed cultivation of small acreages of biotech corn.

In 2005, more than one-third–38 percent–of the global biotech acreage was in developing countries. That is up from 34 percent in 2004.

NCGA Chairman Leon Corzine, a U.S. Department of Agriculture Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st Century member, noted this increase in world production, especially in developing countries, is significant. “This demonstrates our point that the benefits from biotechnology do not only go to large producers. These benefits can help improve the environment throughout the world.”

One key component of NCGA biotechnology program is helping farmers make informed decisions is Know Before You Grow®. This program lets growers track biotechnology events through hybrid availability and global market acceptance. Equally important, NCGA strives to ensure U.S. producers are responsible stewards of biotechnology through the Insect Resistance Management and Weed Resistance Management web-based learning modules.

ISAAA projects the global value of the biotech crop market to increase from $5.25 billion in 2005 to $5.5 billion in 2006.

The report's executive summary can be accessed at http://www.isaaa.org/