The total hectarage of biotech crops increased 6.2% to 170.3 million hectares in 2012. The hectarage of stacked-trait biotech crops grew 3.6% last year to comprise 26% of the global biotech area. Biotech crops were grown in 28 countries, led by the US, Brazil and Argentina, where biotech crop production accounted for 41%, 21% and 14% of the global total, respectively. Biotech crop production grew the fastest in Brazil at 21%. Developing countries accounted for 52% of biotech crop production in 2012. According to Cropnosis, the value of biotech crops increased 11.1% in 2012 to $14.8 billion to represent 23% of the crop protection market and 35% of the commercial seed market. Cuba and Sudan planted biotech crops for the first time in 2012. The first biotech drought-tolerant maize will be planted in North America in 2013 and in Africa in 2017, and the first herbicide- and insect-resistant stacked soybeans will be planted in Brazil later this year. In the Philippines, planned biotech crops include vitamin A–enhanced Golden rice. In Indonesia and China, drought-tolerant sugarcane and biotech maize are expected to be planted, respectively. Biotech crops have been approved for import for use as food or feed in a total of 59 countries.

Source: International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications