Current situation

In 2000, 44.2 million hectares (109.2 million acres) were planted in genetically modified organisms (GMOs) worldwide. Since 1996, global acreage has increased more than 25-fold. 85% of that area is in

in industrialized countries; however, the growth level is currently plateauing, with only a 2% increase between 1999 and 2000. In contrast, while the developing world only accounts for 15% of GMO acreage, that represents a 51% increase from 1999.

     Four countries produce 99% of the world's GMO crops. The US accounts for 68%, grown on 30.3 million acres. Argentina produces 23%, Canada 7% and China 1%. The other nine countries (Australia, South Africa, Mexico, Spain, France, Bulgaria, Romania, Uruguay, and Germany) that grew GM crops in 2000 together produced less than one percent of the world's total.

     Soybean is the most prevalent genetically modified crop, accounting in 2000 for 58% of the global biotech acreage. All GM soybean is engineered to be herbicide resistant. The importance of this trait is evident when one realizes that 36% of the total world soybean crop was genetically modified. The second most important GM crop is Bt corn, primarily grown in the US. Cotton is the most prevalent crop in Australia and South Africa, while canola is the crop of choice in South Africa.

     Herbicide tolerance is now the most common genetically modified trait, accounting for 74% of the 44.2 million acres planted in GM crops worldwide. Traits that affect product quality, such as delayed ripening, stress tolerance, and modified oil content are the next most common modifications. Resistance to fungal and bacterial diseases are currently being developed.

This information came from the following site:

Global Status of Commercialized Transgenic Crops: 2000
ISAA Brief No. 21 by C. James
http://www.isaaa.org/publications/briefs/Brief_21.htm

For further information see:

Field Tests by Country
http://www.nbiap.vt.edu/cfdocs/globalfieldtests.cfm

Crops that have received regulatory approval
From AgBios, Canada
Searchable by country, organism, or trait
http://www.agbios.com/_DBSearch

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