USA: Further high degree of cultivation of genetically modified plants in 2009

(01.07.2009) In the USA, farmers continue to bet on green gene technology. With regard to soya and sugar beet, the proportion of genetically modified (GM) varieties is over 90 per cent, somewhat higher than in the case of either maize or cotton. Collectively, the area cultivated with GM plants has risen by 5 per cent to more than 62 million hectares.

The greatest advance may be observed in herbicide-tolerant GM sugar beets. Three years after market entry, the portion of GM varieties in US-American production of sugar beets has risen from 60 to 95 per cent. In 2009, GM sugar beet may be found on 450,000 hectares.

In the case of maize, the proportion of GMO in this year is 85 per cent, in comparison to 80 per cent in the previous year. The cultivation area of GM maize has risen slightly to 29.9 million hectares. The trend continues towards varieties with several genetically-introduced traits that mostly are a combination of herbicide tolerance and resistance to insects.

GM varieties have been implemented comprehensively with regard to the cultivation of soya. Its proportion has sunken lightly to 91 per cent and its cultivation area totals 28.6 million hectares.

GM cotton remains unchanged in 2009 and is cultivated on 3.2 million hectares. Since the field area of cotton has generally been reduced, the GM proportion has risen from 86 to 88 per cent.

Additionally, GM rapeseed, GM squash (zucchini) and GM papayas are grown on smaller fields in the USA.

The data originates from the official agricultural statistics of the US-American agricultural bureau USDA that are published yearly at the end of July. They are prepared by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) and are based on the evaluations conducted by seed merchants, as well as on representative surveys of farmers.

Further information:

• USDA - National Agricultural Statistics Service

• NASS Acreage