Plant biotechnology benefits
Asia-Pacific region

Plant biotech delivers many benefits to agriculture, the environment, and society.  And, the global share of biotech crops has continued to increase, with farmers planting more biotech crops each year during the first dozen of commercilization; 1996-2007. Accumulated hectarage during this period exceeded two thirds of a billion hectares for the first time in 2007 – at 690 million hectares.  This was a 67-fold increase, making it the fastest adopted crop technology in recent history.

In the Asia-Pacific region alone, uptake of commercially grown biotech crops in 2007 was impressive. In India, 3.8 million farmers grew 6.2 million hectares of Bt cotton –  a 63% gain in biotech crops over 2006. In China, where average crop holdings are smaller than in India, the number of farmers benefiting from Bt cotton in 2007 nearly twice exceeded that of India. For China, 7.1 farmers planted Bt cotton on 3.8 million hectares – up from 3.5 million hectares in 2006. China also planted commercialized biotech papaya on 3,500 hectares, plus about 0.25 million Bt poplars – and a virus-resistant sweet pepper and delayed ripening tomato were approved for commercialization. In the Philippines, biotech crops were planted on 0.3 million hectares in 2007. While in Australia, a four-year ban on biotech canola was lifted in New South Wales and Victoria between late 2007 and early 2008. Plus, although severe drought affected Australia in 2007, Bt cotton was planted on 0.1 million hectares.

On a global basis, the total area of biotech crops soared in 2007 at a growth rate of 12%, or 12.3 million hectares –  reaching 114.3 million hectares overall.  Additionally, the number of countries planting biotech crops increased to 23; comprising 12 developing countries and 11 industrial countries. In order of hectarage they are: USA, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, India, China, Paraguay, South Africa, Uruguay, Philippines, Australia, Spain, Mexico, Columbia, France, Honduras, Czech Republic, Portugal, Germany, Slovakia, Romania and Poland. Significantly, of the global total of 12 million biotech farmers in 2007, over 90% or 11 million were small and resource-poor farmers from developing countries. This is an important milestone and highlights the potential contribution of biotech crops to the humanitarian Millenium Development Goals of reducing poverty and hunger by 50% by 2015.

CropLife Asia actively supports stakeholders such as farmers, consumers, policy makers, academics, scientists and others with capacity-building programmes.  Our aim is to ensure that countries in the Asia-Pacific region are empowered to make informed, science-based decisions about the use of plant biotech within their borders.  As an ambassador of the plant-science industry, CropLife Asia promotes best practices and standards during all development and commercialization stages for crops benefiting from this ever-advancing technology.

Statistical source:
ISAAA Brief 37: Global Status of Commercialized Biotech / GM Crops 2007

PHILIPPINES: Biotech products to boost agricultural development

Biotechnology, says Agriculture Undersecretary Jose Emmanuel Paras, holds the key to the country's survival during these crucial times, when adverse weather conditions-no thanks to climate change-are wreaking havoc on agricultural production.

Source: Jonathan L Mayuga, BioLife, January-February 2008
Read the full story, page 4.

The next green revolution

Europe may not like it, but genetic modification is transforming agriculture.

Source: The Economist, 23-29 February 2008
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THAILAND: Dilemma over GM fruit

Despair over ringspot virus in papaya and the rising use of farm chemicals has forced farmers in this central province to place their hopes on genetically modified (GM) papaya.

Source: Bangkok Post, 17 November 2007
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Related story: Farmers back GMO
Source: The Nationt, 20 September 2007