Biotech crop hectarage increases yet again in 2014, in their 19th consecutive year of commercialisation as a record 181.5 million hectares were grown globally, at an annual growth rate of between 3 and 4 per cent, up 6.3 million hectares from 175.2 million hectares in 2013.
Previous year 2014, was the 19th year of commercialisation (1996-2014) when growth continued after a remarkable 18 consecutive years of increases every single year; notably 12 of the 18 years were double-digit growth rates, revealed a report recently released by the International Service for Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) on Global Status of GM Crops in 2014.
The report said global hectarage of biotech crops has increased more than 100-fold from 1.7 million hectares in 1996 to 181.5 million hectares in 2014, making biotech crops the fastest adopted crop technology in recent times. This impressive adoption rate speaks for itself, in terms of its sustainability, resilience and the significant benefits it delivers to both small and large farmers as well as consumers.
The meta-analysis was performed on 147 published biotech crop studies conducted during the last 20 years, using primary data from farm surveys or field trials world-wide and reporting impacts of GM soybean, maize, or cotton on crop yields, pesticide use, and/or farmer profits. The meta-analysis concluded that "on average GM technology adoption has reduced chemical pesticide use by 37 per cent, increased crop yields by 22 per cent, and increased farmer profits by 68 per cent. Yield gains and pesticide reductions are larger for insect-resistant crops than for herbicide-tolerant crops. Yield and profit gains are higher in developing countries than in developed countries", the report added.
The report further said recent impact studies used better data and methods than earlier studies, but these improvements in study design did not reduce the estimates of GM crop advantages. Rather, NGO reports and other publications without scientific peer review seem to bias the impact estimates downward. But even with such biased estimates included, mean effects remain sizeable." The authors of the meta-analysis note that it reveals "robust evidence of GM crop benefits for farmers in developed and developing countries."
Millions of risk-averse farmers, both large and small, world-wide, have concluded that the returns from planting biotech crops are high, hence repeat planting is virtually 100%; good returns on their investment is the critical test applied by demanding farmers when judging the performance of any technology.
In the 19 year period, millions of farmers in almost 30 countries world-wide, adopted biotech crops at unprecedented rates.
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