ISAAA Briefs

brief 55
executive summary
Global Status of Commercialized
Biotech/GM Crops in 2019:
Biotech Crops Drive Socio-Economic Development
and Sustainable Environment in the New Frontierbrief 55
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops in 2019:
Biotech Crops Drive Socio-Economic Development
and Sustainable Environment in the New FrontierNo. 55 – 2019ISAAA prepares this Brief to provide information and knowledge to the scientific community and society
on biotech/GM crops to facilitate a more informed and transparent discussion regarding their potential
role in contributing to global food, feed, fiber and fuel security, and a more sustainable agriculture. ISAAA
takes full responsibility for the views expressed in this publication and for any errors of omission or
misinterpretation.
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The International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA).
ISAAA 2019. All rights reserved. Whereas ISAAA encourages the global sharing of information in Brief 55,
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due acknowledgment, subsequent to permission being granted by ISAAA.

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ISAAA. 2019. Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops in 2019: Biotech Crops Drive SocioEconomic Development and Sustainable Environment in the New Frontier. ISAAA Brief No. 55. ISAAA:
Ithaca, NY.

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Executive Summary
Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops in 2019:
Biotech Crops Drive Socio-Economic Development and Sustainable Environment in the New Frontier
Table of Contents

Introduction

1

Highlights of the 2019 Adoption of Biotech Crops• Adoption of biotech crops declined slightly in 2019 at 190.4 million hectares
worldwide.
• The adoption rates of the top five biotech crop-growing countries reached close tosaturation.
• Biotech crops increased ~112-fold from 1996, with an accumulated biotech area of
2.7 billion hectares making biotechnology the fastest adopted crop technology in theworld.
• A total of 71 countries adopted biotech crops – 29 countries planted and 42
additional countries imported.
• Biotech soybeans covered 48% of the global biotech crop area.
• Biotech crops provided more diverse offerings to consumers in 2019.
• Stacked IR/HT traits increased by 6%, occupied 45% of the global biotech crop area,and surpassed the area planted to herbicide tolerant traits.
• The top five countries (USA, Brazil, Argentina, Canada, and India) planted 91% of the
global biotech crop area of 190.4 million hectares.
• Ten countries in Latin America grew 83.9 million hectares of biotech crops.
• Nine countries in Asia and the Pacific grew 19.5 million hectares of biotech crops• Africa had a 100% increase in biotech crop planting-countries.
• Two countries in the European Union continued to plant biotech maize at 111,883
hectares2
2

Status of Approved Events for Biotech Crops Used in Food, Feed, Processing, and Cultivation

10

Contribution of Biotech Crops to Food Security, Sustainability, and Climate Change Solutions

10

Economic Gains from Biotech Crops Reached US$225 billion from 1996 to 201811

Conclusion

12

2
2

2
3
3
3
3
7
8
9
9

Global Status of Commercialized/Biotech GM Crops in 2019:

Biotech Crops Drive Socio-Economic Development and Sustainable Environment in the New Frontier

Introduction
Safeguarding food security and nutrition is criticalin order for countries to overcome problems ofhunger and malnutrition. The United Nations
estimates that the interplay of current various
challenges of high population rate, politicalinstability, degradation of natural resources, forced
migration (from farms to urban communities),
and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic will make asignificant impact on food security that could raise
the hunger and malnutrition problems globally.
Actions to be undertaken should be bolder andstronger in terms of multisectoral collaboration
involving agriculture, food, health, water andsanitation, accompanied by policy domains onsocial protection, development planning, andeconomic policy.
Socio-economic benefits of biotech crops havebeen documented in the last 23 years (1996-2018)
showing that biotech crops have contributed to:• increasing productivity that contributes to global
food, feed, and fiber security;• supporting self-sufficiency on a nation’s arable
land;• conserving biodiversity, precluding deforestationand protecting biodiversity sanctuaries;• mitigating the challenges associated withclimate change; and• improving economic, health, and social
benefits.
These economic benefits, health improvement,
and social gains obtained through biotech crop
adoption must be made known to the global
community so that farmers and consumers canmake informed choices on what crops to growand consume, respectively; to the policymakers
and regulators to craft enabling biosafety
guidelines for commercialization and adoption of
biotech crops; and to the science communicatorsand the media to facilitate correct and effective
dissemination of the benefits and potentials of
the technology.
The International Service for the Acquisitionof Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) strongly
espouses the scientific truths behind them withthe publication of ISAAA review of biotech/GM
crop commercialization, Brief 55. This publication
documents the latest information on the subject,
the global database on the adoption anddistribution of biotech crops since the first yearof commercialization in 1996, country situations,and future prospects of the technology. Termed

1Highlights of the 2019 Adoption of Biotech Crops

Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops: 2019as the ISAAA Briefs, the annual reports from 1997
to 2015 were authored by Dr. Clive James, andthe 1996 report was co-authored with Dr. Anatole
Krattiger.
ISAAA dedicates this Brief to Dr. Clive James,
Founder and Emeritus Chair of ISAAA, who has
painstakingly authored the 20 Annual Reports
making it the most credible source of information
on biotech crops in the last two decades. We also
dedicate this Brief to the late Dr. Randy A. Hautea,
former Global Coordinator and SEAsiaCenter
Director for more than two decades. They havebeen great advocates of biotechnology andbiotech products and believe that ISAAA can makea difference in enhancing the knowledge andcapacities of the global community in order tobenefit from the technology, especially the poorand marginalized people of the world.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 2019 ADOPTION OF
BIOTECH CROPS••

The adoption rates of the top five biotech
crop-growing countries reached close tosaturation.

The average biotech crop adoption rate in the
top five biotech crop-growing countries increased
anew in 2019 to reach close to saturation,with the USA at 95% (average for soybeans,maize, and canola adoption), Brazil (94%),
Argentina (~100%), Canada (90%), and India(94%). Expansion of biotech crop areas in thesecountries would be through immediate approvaland commercialization of new biotech crops and2

71.5 MHas (95% adoption)

Brazil52.8 MHas (94% adoption)Argentina

24 MHas (~100% adoption)

Canada12.5 MHas (90% adoption)

India

11.9 MHas (94% adoption)
20

40

60

80

Top 5 countries that planted biotech crops
in 2019 (area and adoption rate)
Source: ISAAA, 2019traits for increased production of nutritious food,mitigate problems related to climate change
accompanied with the emergence of new pests
and diseases.
•

Adoption of biotech crops declined slightly
in 2019 at 190.4 million hectares worldwide.

In the 24th year of commercialization of biotech/
GM crops in 2019, 29 countries grew 190.4 million
hectares of biotech crops – a slight decline of 1.3
million hectares (3.2 million acres) or 0.7% from
191.7 million hectares in 2018.

USA

Biotech crops increased ~112-fold from1996, with an accumulated biotech area of
2.7 billion hectares making biotechnology
the fastest adopted crop technology in theworld.

The global area of biotech crops has increased~112-fold from 1.7 million hectares in 1996 to
190.4 million hectares in 2019 – this makes biotech
crops the fastest adopted crop technology inrecent times. An accumulated 2.7 billion hectares
or 6.7 billion acres were achieved in 24 years(1996-2019) of biotech crop commercialization.
•

A total of 71 countries adopted biotech
crops – 29 countries planted and 42
additional countries imported.

The 190.4 million hectares of biotech crops weregrown by 29 countries – 24 developing and 5
industrial countries. Developing countries grew
56% of the global biotech crop area comparedto 44% for industrial countries. An additional
42 countries (16 plus 26 EU countries) imported

Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops: 2019

Highlights of the 2019 Adoption of Biotech Crops

biotech crops for food, feed, and processing. Thus,
a total of 71 countries have adopted biotech crops.
•

Biotech crops provided more diverse
offerings to consumers in 2019.

Biotech crops have expanded beyond the big
four (maize, soybeans, cotton, and canola) to give
more choices for many of the world’s consumers
and food producers. These biotech crops include
alfalfa (1.3 million hectares), sugar beets (473,000
hectares), sugarcane (20,000 hectares), papaya(12,000 hectares), safflower (3,500 hectares),potatoes (2,265 hectares), eggplant (1,931
hectares), and less than 1,000 hectares of squash,
apples, and pineapple. Additionally, biotech
crop researches conducted by public sector
institutions involve rice, banana, potato, wheat,chickpea, pigeon pea, and mustard with various
economically-important and nutritional quality
traits beneficial to food producers and consumers
in developing countries.
•

Biotech Cotton
25.7 Mhas(13.5%)

Biotech soybeans covered 48% of the global
biotech crop area.

The most adopted biotech crops by the 29
countries were soybeans, maize, cotton, andcanola. Soybean was the leading biotech cropwith 91.9 million hectares that occupied 48% of
the global biotech crop area, with a 4% reduction
from 2018. This is followed by maize (60.9 million
hectares), cotton (25.7 million hectares), andcanola (10.1 million hectares). Based on the global
crop area for individual crops, 79% of cotton, 74%of soybeans, 31% of maize, and 27% of canola
were biotech crops in 2019.
•

Biotech Canola
10.1 Mhas(5.3%)

Stacked IR/HT traits increased by 6%,
occupied 45% of the global biotech croparea, and surpassed the area planted toherbicide tolerant traits.

Stacked traits with insect resistance and herbicide
tolerance increased by 6% equivalent to 85.1
million hectares and covered 45% of the global

Biotech Maize
60.9 Mhas(32%)

Other Biotech Crops*
1.8 Mhas (1%)

Biotech Soybeans
91.9 Mhas(48.2%)* Biotech sugar beets, potatoes, apples, squash, papaya, and brinjal/
eggplant.

biotech crops in 2019 (area and adoption rate)
Source: ISAAA, 2019

area, proof of farmers’ preference for smart
farming with no-till and reduced insecticideuse. Herbicide tolerance in soybeans, canola,maize, alfalfa, and cotton, has consistently been
the dominant trait till 2018. In 2019, the area
planted to herbicide tolerant crops was reduced
to 81.5 million hectares or 43%. Some 12% of
the global area was planted to insect tolerant
traits. New traits approved for 2019 for import
and/or cultivation include: the stacked IR/HT/HT cotton with glyphosate and isofluxatole, IR/pyramided HT (glyphosate, glufosinate, dicamba,
2,4-D) and intermediates in maize, IR pyramided(for coleopteran, hemipteran, and lepidopteran)/
HT (glyphosate, glufosinate) and intermediates
in maize, salt tolerant and herbicide tolerantsoybeans, and insect resistant sugarcane, all in
Brazil; Argentine canola with HT and modified oils;
and low gossypol cotton in the USA.
•The top five countries (USA, Brazil,
Argentina, Canada, and India) planted 91%
of the global biotech crop area of 190.4
million hectares.

3

Highlights of the 2019 Adoption of Biotech Crops

Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops: 2019

Table 1. Global Area of Biotech Crops in 2019: by Country (Million Hectares)**
Rank

Country

Area(Million Hectares)

Biotech Crops

1

USA*

71.5

Maize, soybeans, cotton, alfalfa, canola, sugar beets,
potatoes, papaya, squash, apples

2

Brazil*52.8

Soybeans, maize, cotton, sugarcane

3

Argentina*

24.0

Soybeans, maize, cotton, alfalfa

4

Canada*12.5

Canola, soybeans, maize, sugar beets, alfalfa, potatoes

5

India*

11.9

Cotton6Paraguay*

4.1

Soybeans, maize, cotton

7

China*

3.2

Cotton, papaya

8South Africa*

2.7

Maize, soybeans, cotton

9

Pakistan*

2.5

Cotton10

Bolivia*

1.4

Soybeans

11

Uruguay*

1.2

Soybeans, maize

12Philippines*

0.9

Maize

13

Australia*

0.6

Coton, canola, safflower

14

Myanmar*

0.3

Cotton15

Sudan*

0.2

Cotton16

Mexico*0.2

Cotton17

Spain*

0.1

Maize

18

Colombia*

0.1

Maize, cotton

19

Vietnam*

0.1

Maize

20

Honduras*

<0.1

Maize

21

Chile

<0.1

Maize, canola

22

Malawi<0.1

Cotton23

Portugal

<0.1

Maize

24

Indonesia<0.1

Sugarcane

25

Bangladesh<0.1

Brinjal/Eggplant

26

Nigeria<0.1

Cotton27

Eswatini<0.1

Cotton28

Ethiopia<0.1

Cotton29

Costa Rica

<0.1

Cotton, pineapple

Total

190.4

*19 biotech mega-countries growing 50,000 hectares, or more, of biotech crops**Rounded-off to the nearest hundred thousand.
Source: ISAAA, 20194

Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops: 2019

Highlights of the 2019 Adoption of Biotech Crops#23 Bangladesh#1 USA*

71.5 Million Has.

#23 Portugal

Maize, Soybeans, Cotton, Alfalfa,
Canola, Sugar beets, Potatoes,
Papaya, Squash, Apples<0.05 Million Has.
Maize

<0.05 Million Has.
Brinjal/Eggplant#17 Spain*

0.1 Million Has.
Maize

#28 Ethiopia#7 China*

CottonCotton, Papaya<0.05 Million Has.

#4 Canada*

12.5 Million Has.

#15 Sudan*

0.2 Million Has.

Canola, Soybeans, Maize,
Sugar beets, Alfalfa, Potatoes

3.2 Million Has.

#9 Pakistan*

Cotton#12 Philippines*

2.5 Million Has.

0.9 Million Has.

CottonMaize#24 Indonesia<0.05 Million Has.
Sugarcane#16 Mexico*

0.2 Million Has.

#20 Honduras

Cotton<0.05 Million Has.
Maize

#29 Costa Rica

<0.05 Million Has.
Cotton, Pineapple#18 Colombia*#5 India*#10 Bolivia*

11.9 Million Has.

1.4 Million Has.

CottonSoybeans#14 Myanmar*

0.1 Million Has.

0.3 Million Has.

Maize, Cotton#26 Nigeria#21 Chile

Cotton<0.05 Million Has.

#8 South Africa*
Maize, Soybeans, Cotton

24 Million Has.

#27 eSwatini<0.05 Million Has.

Soybeans, Maize, Cotton, Alfalfa

Soybeans, Maize, Cotton

Cotton2.7 Million Has.

#3 Argentina*

4.1 Million Has.

#22 Malawi<0.05 Million Has.

Maize, Canola#6 Paraguay*

Cotton<0.05 Million Has.

#2 Brazil*

Cotton#19 Vietnam

0.1 Million Has.
Maize

#13 Australia*
0.6 Million Has.

Cotton, Canola, Safflower

52.8 Million Has.
Soybeans, Maize,
Cotton, Sugarcane#11 Uruguay*

1.2 Million Has.
Soybeans, Maize*19 biotech mega-countries growing 50,000 hectares, or more, of biotech crops.
Source: ISAAA, 2019

Figure 1. Global Map of Biotech Crop Countries and Mega-Countries in 20195

Highlights of the 2019 Adoption of Biotech Crops

The USA led the biotech crop planting in 2019at 71.5 million hectares, followed by Brazil (52.8
million hectares), Argentina (24 million hectares),
Canada (12.5 million hectares), and India (11.9
million hectares) (Table 1) for a total of 172.7
million hectares, representing 91% of the global
area. Thus, biotechnology benefited more than
1.95 billion people in the 5 countries or 26% of thecurrent world population of 7.6 billion.
The US reached an average 95% adoption rate forplanting biotech soybeans, maize, and cotton
In 2019, the biotech area in the USA was 71.5
million hectares, covering 38% of the global
biotech area, with an average adoption rate of 94%
for principal crops, similar to 2018. Biotech crops
planted were soybeans (30.43 million hectares, a
3.6 million hectare reduction from 2018), maize(33.17 million hectares), cotton (5.31 million
hectares), canola (800,000 hectares), sugar beets(454,100 hectares), alfalfa (1.28 million hectares),potatoes (1,780 hectares), some 1,000 hectares

In 2019, the US planted 33.17 million
hectares biotech maize.

6

Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops: 2019each of papaya and squash, and 265 hectares
apples.
New approvals for biotech crops and traits in the
US include USDA commercialization approvalfor Argentina’s HB4 drought tolerant soybeans,following approvals in Argentina in 2018 andBrazil in 2019. Biotech cotton with low gossypol
content event TAM66274 received a non-regulated
status from USDA APHIS and an FDA approval in
2019, for commercialization and use for humanfood and animal feed within the USA. Anothervariety of apple, Arctic®Gala with non-browningtrait was approved for commercialization. The
non-browning trait has also been successfully
introduced to GreenVenus™ Romaine lettuce byIntrexon.
Brazil expanded biotech crop area to reach 52.8
million hectares
Brazil maintains its standing as the second country,
after the USA, with the largest biotech croparea planted in 2019. The 52.8 million hectaresof biotech crops include 35.1 million hectares
soybeans (surpassing the US biotech soybean
for the first time), 16.3 million hectares maize,
1.4 million hectares cotton, and some 18,000
hectares insect resistant sugarcane. The 52.8
million hectares was an increase of ~1.6 million
hectares or 3% in 2019, at an adoption rate of 94%(1% higher than 2018). Brazil has systematized
the process for GM authorization. The procedures
were modernized and increased the deadline fordecisions by CNTBio. This will allow applicants tosubmit any additional information on new data
to ensure that application complies with the newconditions.
Argentina maintains 100% adoption rate ofbiotech crops
Argentina ranked third in the top ten countries
planting biotech crops in 2019. A minimal increaseof 110,000 hectares of biotech crops wereplanted in Argentina in 2019 at 23.9 (24) million
hectares, compared to 23.8 million hectares in2018 which is 13% of the global total of 190.4

Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops: 2019

Highlights of the 2019 Adoption of Biotech Crops

million hectares. The biotech crop area consistedof 17.5 million hectares soybeans, 5.9 million
hectares maize, 485,000 hectares cotton, and morethan 1,000 hectares of biotech alfalfa (planted
for the first time in Argentina), at an average
adoption rate of close to 100%. The Argentinian
government through the Argentine National
Advisory Committee on Agricultural Biotechnology(CONABIA) approved nine biotech applicationsin 2019: six maize events, two cotton events, andone soybean event. A wheat event containing the
HB4 gene that confers drought resistance received
full technical approval but awaits commercial
approval by the National Direction of Agricultural
Food Markets (DNMA) under the Ministry of AgroIndustry.
Canada had a 23% increase in biotech sugar beetsarea
Biotech crop area in Canada declined slightly in2019 by ~2% from 12.75 million hectares in 2018
to 12.46 million hectares due to reduction inplanted areas of total and biotech soybeans. The
decrease in soybean area was due to the unstable
weather conditions during the planting season.
Areas planted to biotech maize, canola, and alfalfa
had marginal increases, while sugar beets reached
its highest increase of 23%. Innate® potato wasplanted in only 40 hectares in 2019. The average
adoption rate of 90% in 2019 was a decrease of
2% from 2018. New and upcoming biotech crops
and events in Canada include: (a) Roundup Ready
tolerant Truflex™ canola launched on 404,000
hectares; and (b) approval of two varieties of higholeic acid soybeans. Biotech Golden Rice with
provitamin A Event GR2E was given approval byHealth Canada (HC) in 2019. This decision coincides
with the approval from Food Standards Australia
New Zealand (FSANZ) in 2017. The Canadian Food
Inspection Agency (CFIA) and HC approved the use
for feedstock of one Bayer CropScience cotton
product.
India hit 94% adoption rate of IR (Bt) cotton
The IR (Bt) cotton adoption rate in India has almost
stabilized in the past five years at more or less

Argentina planted biotech alfalfa for the
first time in 2019.

95%. The 94% adoption rate in 2019 by morethan 6 million farmers who planted 11.9 million
hectares of biotech cotton reflects the continuing
confidence of the farmers and the benefits theyobtain from the technology. Thus, they are in needof other biotech crops that will provide them profit
and help improve their living status. This caused
some farmer groups to plant unauthorized stacked
trait IR(Bt)/HT cotton in major cotton growing
areas in Central and Southern zones in Kharif 2017
and numerous protests to push for the approvalof the stacked trait cotton event. In addition, thewidening spread of fall armyworm infestations
prompted the government to strategize on its
control, which can be solved by pyramided insect
resistant crops.
•

Ten countries in Latin America grew 83.9
million hectares of biotech crops.

Ten countries in Latin America planted biotech
crops in 2019 including Brazil (52.8 million
hectares), Argentina (24 million hectares),
Paraguay (4.1 million hectares), Bolivia (1.4
million hectares), Uruguay (1.2 million hectares),7

Highlights of the 2019 Adoption of Biotech Crops

Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops: 2019

Bolivian government gave its support to soybean
producers by granting the approval to cultivate
two new genetically engineered soybean events
to boost their biofuel production. In the future,
the adoption of drought tolerant soybeans will be
useful to overcome the drought incidences in the
Latin American countries.
•

In 2019, 18 countries planted biotech cotton
including USA, Brazil, Argentina, India, Paraguay,
China, South Africa, Pakistan, Australia,
Myanmar, Sudan, Mexico, Colombia, Malawi,
Nigeria, Eswatini, Ethiopia, and Costa Rica.

Mexico (223,000 hectares), Colombia (101,188
hectares), Chile (41,093 hectares), Honduras(37,386), and Costa Rica (297 hectares) for a totalof 83.9 million hectares, covering 44% of the
190.4 million hectare global biotech areas. The
increases in biotech crop area in most of theLatin American countries compensated for thelosses from the extensive drought incidence of2017 and 2018. In addition, enabling regulations;profitability, high prices, and high market demandin the local and international market; availabilityof new seed technologies for maize, soybeans,and cotton; subsidized credit for farmers andforeign investments from the industry; favorable
weather; and improved agronomic practices withefficient fertilizer applications encouraged thefarmers in Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Mexico,
Colombia, and Honduras to plant biotech crops.
In Bolivia, the increase in biotech soybean area
was due to favorable conditions in 2019, after
two years of extreme drought. Moreover, the8Nine countries in Asia and the Pacific grew
19.5 million hectares of biotech crops

Biotech countries in the Asia and Pacific region
were led by India with the largest area of biotech
crops at 11.9 million hectares cotton, followed by
China (3.2 million hectares cotton and papaya),Pakistan (2.5 million hectares cotton), Philippines(875,000 hectares biotech maize), Australia(614,446 hectares cotton, canola, and safflower),
Myanmar (300,000 hectares cotton), Vietnam(92,000 hectares maize), Indonesia (2,000 hectares
drought tolerant sugarcane), and Bangladesh(1,931 hectares eggplant). This region planted
19.5 million hectares in 2019, which indicates a
2% increase from 19.1 million hectares in 2018.
This area also covered 10.2% of the 190.4 million
hectares global biotech crops. The favorable
global cotton price has positively impacted biotech
cotton adoption in India and China, while public
acceptance of clean and hazard free productionof biotech eggplant motivated more farmers in
Bangladesh. In Vietnam, the high price of imported
maize and increasing fall army worm incidence
increased the biotech maize area. The planting ofdrought tolerant sugarcane in Indonesia is only
limited to government-owned farms, thus limiting
its potential to contribute to the country’s sugar
industry. Australia’s extended extreme drought
during the growing season in 2019 affected canolaand cotton (biotech and total) area. Australia’s
cotton planted area was the smallest on record,
but the adoption rate of biotech canola went up
due to better weed control and higher profit. There
was a minimal decrease in Bt cotton area planted
in Myanmar. New biotech cotton varieties and theapproval of the new Biosafety Framework could
increase the area planted in the future.

Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops: 2019•

Africa had a 100% increase in biotech crop
planting-countries.

The African continent remains the region withthe biggest potential to reap from the benefits
associated with modern agricultural biotechnology.
There has been increased awareness andappreciation of GM crops among African farmers
in 2019. Thus, the African continent doubled thenumber of countries planting biotech crops fromthree in 2018 to six in 2019. The countries indescending order of biotech crop area were South
Africa (2.7 million hectares for maize, soybeans,and cotton), IR/Bt cotton in Sudan (236,200
hectares), Malawi (6,000 hectares), Nigeria (700
hectares), Eswatini (401 hectares), and Ethiopia(311 hectares) for a total of 2.9 million hectares,
1.54% of the global biotech crop area of 190.4
million hectares. The approval of Nigeria’s Bt
cowpea resistant to pod borers was a major
milestone in 2019. Moreover, Kenya approved
the commercialization of biotech cotton in 2019
for cultivation in 2020. Other African countries
continued to transition from confined field trials tothe environmental release phase: Mozambique fordrought tolerant maize and Kenya for Bt maize andcassava brown streak disease resistant cassava.
The countries that improved their biosafety
regulation to facilitate biotech crop development
and adoption are Ghana and Niger. A numberof countries also endorsed the trade of biotech
crops and vouched for their food safety including
Zambia.
•Highlights of the 2019 Adoption of Biotech Crops

Two countries in the European Union
continued to plant biotech maize at 111,883  
hectares

The acceptance of biotech crops for cultivationin the EU has not improved in the last 24 years.
Two countries planted biotech maize, becauseof the infestation brought by the European cornborer. Since 2016, only Spain and Portugal planted
biotech Bt maize. In 2019, 107,130 hectares
and 4,753 hectares were planted by Spain andsudan
ethiopia

nigeriamalawi6 Countries inafrica growing
biotech crops
in 2019
Source: ISAAA, 2019

eswatini
south africa

Portugal, respectively, for a total of 111,883
hectares, 7.5% less than the biotech maize
area of 120,980 hectares in 2018. There wasless motivation to plant biotech maize since
the market calls for non-biotech raw materials.
Imports of feedstocks from Argentina, Brazil, andthe United States were mostly biotech. There
were imports of more than 30 million metric tons
(MT) of soybeans and soybean products (90-95%
biotech), 10 to 20 million MT of maize products(20 to 25% biotech), and 2.5 to 5 million MT ofrapeseed products (close to 25% biotech) per
year, mainly for feed. This situation is expected
to continue as there is no change in the EU
regulation, there is no approval for cultivationin sight, and movement against biotech crops isstill strong. At the beginning of 2018, six biotech
crops were authorized for entry into the EU
for food and feed uses including four soybean
events, one oilseed rape, and one renewal
for maize. Before the end of 2019, two newvarieties of maize and renewal of three existing
authorizations for maize and sugar beets wereapproved for food and feed uses.

9Status of Approved Events for Biotech Crops Used in Food, Feed, Processing, and Cultivation

STATUS OF APPROVED EVENTS FOR BIOTECHCROPS USED IN FOOD, FEED, PROCESSING,
AND CULTIVATION
A total of 72 countries (29 planting and 43 nonplanting + EU 26, counted as one) have issued
regulatory approvals for genetically modified orbiotech crops for consumption either as humanfood, animal feed, as well as for commercial
cultivation. Since 1992, there have been 4,485
approvals granted by regulatory authorities
to 403 biotech events from 29 biotech crops,
excluding carnation, rose, and petunia.
Of these approvals, 2,115 were for food, either
for direct use or for processing, 1,514 were
for feed use, for direct use or processing,while 856 were for environmental release orcultivation. The USA had the highest number ofGM events approved (single traits only) followed
by Japan (not including intermediate eventsfrom approved stacked and pyramided events),
Canada, Brazil, and South Korea in the top five.
Maize still has the most number of approved
events (146 events in 35 countries), followed bycotton (66 events in 27 countries), potato (49events in 13 countries), soybeans (38 eventsin 31 countries), and canola (38 events in 15
countries).
The top ten events with the highest number
of approvals in different countries include:
herbicide tolerant maize event NK603 (61approvals in 28 countries + EU 28 as one) still
has the highest number of approvals. It isfollowed by herbicide tolerant soybean GTS
40-3-2 (57 approvals in 28 countries + EU 28
as one), insect resistant maize MON810 (55approvals in 27 countries + EU 28), herbicide
tolerant and insect resistant maize TC1507 (55approvals in 27 countries + EU 28), herbicide
tolerant and insect resistant maize Bt11 (54approvals in 26 countries + EU 28), insect
resistant maize MON89034 (51 approvals in
25 countries + EU 28), herbicide tolerant maize

10

Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops: 2019

Table 2. Top Ten Countries which Granted Food,
Feed and Cultivation/Environment Approvals*
Number of Approvals
RankCountry

Food

Feed

Cultivation

Total

1

USA**

183

178

178

539

2

Japan*

186

177

130***

493

3

Canada

147

138

144

429

4

Brazil

111

111

106

328

5

South
Korea

157

148

0

305

6

Philippines

116

114

14

244

7

Mexico

188

29

14

231

8

Argentina

77

69

75

221

9

European
Union

100

101

4

205

10

Australia

118

18

39

175

Others

732

431

152

1,315

Total

2,115

1,514

856

4,485

*For Japan, data is collected from Japan Biosafety Clearing
House (JBCH, English and Japanese) as well as the websiteof the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW).
However, intermediate events derived from an approved
pyramided event recorded in JBCH are not included in our
database if they do not appear in MHLW. Also, expired
approvals are included in our database from 1992 while
JBCH’s records starts in 2004.
**USA only approves individual events.
***While cultivation approvals are granted in Japan, there
are no current GM planting done.
Source: ISAAA, 2019

GA21 (50 approvals in 24 countries + EU 28),
herbicide and insect resistant maize MON88017(45 approvals in 24 countries + EU 28), herbicide
tolerant soybean A2704-12 (45 approvals in 25
countries + EU 28).

Contribution of biotech crops to foodsecurity, sustainability, and climatechange solutions
Biotech crops are being adopted globally
because of the enormous benefits to theGlobal Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops: 2019

Economic Gains from Biotech Crops– by reducing EIQ (Environmental Impact
Quotient) by 18.3 % in 1996-2018, and by
19% in 2018 alone.
• reducing CO2 emissions in 2018 by 23
billion kg, equivalent to taking 15.3 million
cars off the road for one year; and• helping alleviate poverty throughuplifting the economic situation of 16-17
million small farmers, and their families
totaling >65 million people, who aresome of the poorest people in the world(Brookes, 2020).
In 2019, the herbicide tolerant maize event NK603
has the highest number of approvals, 61 in 28
countries.

environment, health of humans and animals,
and contributions to the improvement ofsocio-economic conditions of farmers andthe general public. Global economic gains
contributed by biotech crops in the last 23
years (1996-2018) have amounted to US$224.9
billion economic benefits to more than 16 to
17 million farmers, 95% of whom come fromdeveloping countries.
Biotech crops contributed to food security,
sustainability and climate change solutions by:• increasing crop productivity by 822
million tons valued at US$224.9 billion in
1996-2018; and 86.9 million tons valued at
US$18.9 billion in 2018 alone;• conserving biodiversity in 1996 to 2018
by by saving 231 million hectares of landand 24.3 million hectares of land in 2018
alone;• providing a better environment– by saving on 776 million kg. a.i. of
pesticides in 1996-2018 and by 51.7
million kg in 2018 alone from being
released into the environment;– by saving on pesticide use by 8.3% in
1996-2018, and by 8.6% in 2018 alone;

Thus, biotech crops can contribute to a“sustainable intensification” strategy favoredby many science academies worldwide, whichallows productivity and production to be
increased on the current 1.5 billion hectares
only of global cropland, thereby saving forestsand biodiversity. Biotech crops are essential
but are not a panacea, and adherence togood farming practices such as rotations andresistance management, are a must for biotech
crops as they are for conventional crops.

Economic gains from biotech crops
reached US$225 billion from 1996 to2018
A total of US$224.9 billion economic benefits
was gained by countries planting biotech
crops from 1996 to 2018. The highest gain
was obtained by the USA (US$95.9 billion),
Argentina (US$28.1 billion), Brazil (US$26.6
billion), India (US$24.3billion), China (US$23.2
billion), Canada (US$9.7 billion), and others(US$23.2 billion) for a total of US$224.9 billion.
For 2018 alone, six countries gained the mosteconomically from biotech crops, they were
the USA (US$ 7.8 billion), Brazil, (US$3.8 billion),
Argentina (US$2.4 billion), India (US$1.5
billion), China (US$1.5 billion), Canada (US$ 0.9
billion), and others (US$1 billion) for a total of
US$18.9 billion (Brookes, 2020).

11

Conclusion

Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops: 2019

Contribution of Biotech Crops to Food Security, Sustainability,
and Climate Change Solutions
increasecrop productivity

conserve
biodiversity

farm income gains in 1996-2018
generated globally by

231 million hectares

US$225 billion

in 1996-2018, productivity gained
through biotechnology saved

biotech cropsof land from plowing and cultivation

provide a better
environment

reduce co2 emissions

776 million kgs

15.3 million cars

saved 23 billion kgs co2
equivalent to removing

decreased use of crop
protection products bya global reductionof 8.6% in 1996-2018

off the road for 1 year

help alleviate poverty and hunger
biotech crops uplifted the lives of

17 million farmers
and their families totaling>65 million people
Source: Brookes and Barfoot, 2020conclusion
The Global Food Insecurity Report of 2019
revealed that the targets of the United Nations(UN) Millennium Development Goals (MDG) that
ended in 2015 were not achieved, and that morethan 820 million people in the world were still
hungry in 2018 which makes it difficult to achieve
the Zero Hunger target by 2030. The State ofFood Security and Nutrition in the World 2019
also showed that the decline in hunger the world
had enjoyed for over a decade was at an end,
and that hunger is again on the rise. The global
level of the prevalence of undernourishment has
stabilized; unfortunately, the absolute number ofundernourished people continues to slowly rise.

12

Regional details show that in almost all
African subregions, the highest prevalence ofundernourishment is close to 20%, This is followedby Asia especially the Western Asian region whichshows a continuous increase since 2010 of morethan 12% of its population. Hunger is also slowly
rising in Latin America and the Caribbean atclose to 7%. It is discouraging to note that over 2
billion people do not have regular access to safe,
nutritious, and sufficient food, including 8% of
the population in Northern America and Europe.
The economic slowdowns and downturns havegreatly impacted the likelihood of severe foodinsecurity and undernutrition, and this effect is
20% higher for low-income countries. Moreover,climate change is heavily affecting food production

Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops: 2019Conclusion

globally. Overall, year-to-year changes in climate
factors during the growing season of maize, rice,soybeans, and spring wheat could account for
20%-49% of yield fluctuations.
Thus, in the 24th year of biotech cropcommercialization (cultivation and import for
food, feed, and processing), the 190.4 million
hectares could contribute to the alleviation ofthese problems. The accumulated biotech croparea from 1996 to 2019 of 2.7 billion hectares (6.7
million acres) continues to provide food, feed,and shelter to the 7.7 billion global population.
Moreover, there were accumulated (1996-2018)
economic benefits of US$229.4 billion to 18 million
farmers and their families, 95% of whom are small
farmers. New biotech crops and traits were madeavailable for consumers to sustain ample andnutritious food and for farmers with agronomic
traits to mitigate climate change related-biotic andabiotic agricultural problems.
Public acceptance and enabling policies in thegovernment are key for agricultural, socioeconomic, and environmental benefits of biotech
crops to reach the poor and the hungry. More
importantly, a regional regulatory harmonizationthat facilitate data transportability would expedite
biosafety decision-making. Ensuring that thesebenefits will continue now and in the future
depends also on the diligence and forward-looking
regulatory steps based on science, criticallylooking at the benefits instead of risks, agricultural
productivity with a sense of environmental
conservation and sustainability, and mostimportantly taking into consideration the millionsof hungry and impoverished populace in need ofresources.

13

Executive Summary
ISAAA Brief 55
Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops in 2019:
Biotech Crops Drive Socio-Economic Development and Sustainable
Environment in the New Frontier

ISAAA SEAsiaCenter
c/o IRRI, Los Baños, Laguna 4031
Philippines

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http://www.isaaa.org/