Author : James, Clive

Summary : Between 1996 and 1999, twelve countries, 8 judicial and 4 developing, have contributed to more than twenty fold (23.5) increase in the global area of transgenic crips. Adoption rates for transgenic crops pare unprecedented and are the highest for any new technologies by agricultural industry standards. High adoption rates reflect grower satisfaction with the products that offer significant benefits ranging from more convenient and flexible crop management, higher productivity or net returns/hectare and a safer environment through decreased use of conventional pesticides, which collectively contribute to a more sustainable agriculture. In 1999, the global area of transgenic crops increased by 44%, or 12.1 million hectares, to 39.9 million hectares, from 27.8 million hectares in 1998. Seven transgenic crops were grown commercially in twelve countries in 1999, three of which, Portugal, Rumania and Ukraine, grew transgenic crops for the first time.