Biotech crops continue showing growth, benefits in 2014
Biotech crops continue showing growth, benefits in 2014
A seminar reviewing the global prospect of biotech/genetically modified crops in 2014 took place on Tuesday in Hanoi to present the latest annual report on GM crop usage situation globally in 2014 as well as benefits from using GM crops in agricultural development and to farmers.
The seminar was jointly held by the Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences (VAAS) in cooperation with the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA), a not-for-profit organisation designed to contribute to the alleviation of hunger and poverty by sharing knowledge and crop biotechnology applications.
The report shows that a record 181.5 million hectares of biotech crops were grown globally in 2014, an increase of more than six million hectares from 2013.
With the addition of Bangladesh, a total of 28 countries grew biotech crops during the year. These 20 developing and eight industrial countries where biotech crops are produced represent more than 60 per cent of the world’s population.
“The hectarage of biotech crops grown in 2014 equals, roughly, 80 per cent more than the total land mass of China,
“Global hectarage has increased more than 100-fold since the first plantings of biotech crops,” said Clive James, ISAAA founder and report author.
Clive James has lived and worked for the past 30 years in the developing countries of Asia, Latin America and Africa, devoting his efforts to agricultural research and development issues with a focus on crop biotechnology and global food security.
According to the report, the US continues to lead production at 73.1 million hectares.
Up three million hectares – a growth rate of 4 per cent – from 2013, the US recorded the highest year-over-year increase, surpassing Brazil, which has recorded the highest annual increase for the past five years.
The report also highlighted key benefits of biotechnology, including alleviation of poverty and hunger by boosting the income of risk-averse small, resource-poor farmers around the world.
Latest global provisional information for the period 1996 to 2013 shows that biotech crops increased production valued at $133 billion; in the period 1996 to 2012 pesticide use decreased significantly saving approximately 500 million kg of active ingredient.
In 2013 alone, crop plantings lowered carbon dioxide emissions equivalent to removing 12.4 million cars from the road for one year.
These findings are consistent with a rigorous meta-analysis, conducted by German economists, Klumper and Qaim in 2014, which concluded that GM technology has, on average, reduced chemical pesticide use by 37 per cent, increased crop yields 22 per cent, and increased farmer profits 68 per cent during the 20 year period from 1995 to 2014.
Vietnam last year approved the use of several GM corn straits for animal feed which were planned for cultivation this year.
