Global Biotech Crop Report

Global biotech crop acreage grew to 222 million acres in 2005, according to the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA). In 1996, when the first biotech crops were commercially grown, 7 million acres of biotech crops were grown worldwide.

In 2004, a total of 222 million acres of biotech crops were planted in 21 countries by 8.5 million farmers. Of the 8.5 million farmers, 90 percent are resource-poor farmers in developing countries; developing countries account for more than one-third of the global biotech crop acreage.

Of the 21 countries growing biotech crops, five are in the European Union. Additionally, the one billionth cumulative acre of biotech crops was planted in 2005.

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