In 2009, growth of biotech crops increased 7% to 134 million hectares. Twenty-five countries planted biotech crops, with 15 countries each growing more than 50,000 hectares, led by the US, Brazil and Argentina. In Brazil, biotech crops increased 35%, the largest increase among any country, to occupy 21.4 million hectares. Biotech herbicide-tolerant soybean and biotech maize occupied 52% and 31% of the global biotech area in 2009, respectively. Herbicide-tolerant and stacked-trait biotech crops occupied 62% and 21% of the global biotech area, respectively, for a 6% increase each. Stacked-trait crops were deployed in 11 countries. The commercialization of Ready2Yield in 2009 represented a new class of second-generation biotech crops in that they enhance yield. According to Cropnosis, the market value for biotech crops increased 17% in 2009 to $10.5 billion to make up 20% of the crop protection market and 30% of the commercial market for seeds.

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