GM crop plantings up 9,4%

In 2008 genetically modified (GM) crops were planted on 125 million hectares by some 13,3 million farmers in 25 countries on six continents. This is a 9,4% increase on the 12 million farmers in 23 countries who planted 114,3 million hectares in 2007.
This is according to the latest statistics released by Dr Clive James, chairperson of the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications (ISAAA).
With more than 1,8 million hectares planted in 2008, South Africa had maintained its number eight position in the world-ranking of GM-crop producing countries, said Dr Kobus Laubscher, CEO of Grain SA, at a recent media conference in Pretoria.
Dr Laubscher quoted a survey funded by the Maize Trust confirming production of GM crops in South Africa was expanding. In 2008, the area planted to GM maize increased by 10 000ha over the 2007 figure, despite an almost 8% decline in total-area planted to commercial maize in 2008. Soya increased by 40 000ha and cotton by 2 000ha in 2008, compared to 2007.
Of the 1,6 million hectares planted to white maize in 2008, 891 000ha (56%) was GM maize, consisting of 579 000ha of Bt insect-resistant, 148 000ha of herbicide-tolerant and 164 000ha of “stacked-trait” cultivars.
White maize decreased slightly from 2007 to 891 000ha in 2008, due to a reduction in total white-maize planted. Of 1 million hectares of yellow maize, 724 000ha (or 72%) was GM maize, consisting of 455 000ha Bt, 131 000ha of herbicide-tolerant and 138 000ha of stacked-trait cultivars.
Of the estimated 230 000ha of soya planted, 184 000ha (80%) was GM, all-herbicide tolerant. Of the total area of 13 000ha planted to cotton, 12 000ha (90%) was GM, consisting of 83% stacked trait, 9% herbicide tolerant and 7% Bt cultivars.
Use of stacked-trait cultivars, which increased four-fold in maize from 2007, and are dominant in cotton, show combined traits address multiple constraints on productivity.
The total area under GM crops in South Africa increased steadily from 197 000ha in 2001, to 573 000ha in 2004, reaching an all-time record of 1,8 million hectares in 2008. – Chris Nel