Author : James, Clive

Summary : In reviewing the shift in global share of transgenic crops for the respective countries, crops and traits, the major changes between 1997 and 1998 were related to the following trends: growth in area of transgenic crops between 1997 and 1998 in the industrial countries continued to be significant and almost 5 times greater than in developing countries (13.9 million hectares versus 2.9 million hectares); in terms of crops, soybean contributed the most (56%) to global growth of transgenic crops, equivalent to 9.4 million hectares between 1997 and 1998, followed by corn at 30% (5.1 million hectares), canola at 7% (1.2 million hectares) and cotton at 6% (1.1 million hectares). There were three noteworthy developments in terms of traits, herbicide tolerance contributed the most (77% or 12.9 million hectares) to global growth, and insect resistance contributed 22% equivalent to 3.7 million hectares; the multiple or stacked traits of insect resistance and herbicide tolerance increased by 0.2 million hectares in 1998 representing 1% of global area with significant prospects for further growth in future. Of the 5 major transgenic crops grown in 8 countries in 1998, the two principal crops of soybean and corn, represented 82% of the global transgenic area. This summarizes the five dominant transgenic crops in 1998 and their relative importance in terms of global share. Herbicide tolerant soybean was the most dominant transgenic crop (52% of global transgenic area) followed by insect resistant corn (24%), and insect resistant/herbicide tolerant cotton at 9%, herbicide tolerant canola (9%), and herbicide tolerant corn at 6%.