PRESENTATION BY DR KOBUS LAUBSCHER, CEO, GRAIN SA, WEDNESDAY 18 FEBRUARY 2009, PRETORIA, ON THE GLOBAL STATUS OF COMMERCIALISED BIOTECH/GM CROPS: 2008.

18 February 2009 - RECORD 125 MILLION HA OF BIOTECH CROPS PLANTED GLOBALLY IN 2008

According to the latest statistics released by Dr. Clive James, chairperson of ISAAA (International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications), in 2008 some 13.3 million farmers (12 million ’07) in 25 countries (23) on all six continents planted 125 million ha (114.3 million) of GM crops globally, an increase of 9.4% over 2007.

10 000 HA MORE GM MAIZE PLANTED IN RSA

South Africa maintained its number eight position in the world ranking of biotech crop countries, planting more than 1.8 million ha of biotech crops, said Dr Kobus Laubscher, CEO of Grain SA.

Speaking at a press conference in Pretoria, he said that according to a survey funded by the Maize Trust, the production of GM crops in South Africa continues to expand at an impressive rate. In 2008 GM maize plantings increased by 10 000 ha despite an almost 8% decline in commercial maize area planted; soybeans increased by 40 000 ha and cotton by 2 000 ha.

The market share of GM crops in 2008 – maize, soybeans and cotton – increased while the hectarage grew to 1.8 million ha, about the same as 2007, and up 30% on 2006. Maize, white and yellow, topped the list with 1.617 million ha or 62% of total maize area (57% in 2007).

Of the 1.6 million ha of white maize 56% or 891 000 ha, was biotech, representing 579 000 ha Bt insect resistant, 148 000 ha herbicide-tolerant and 164 000 ha combined (“stacked”) traits. White maize decreased slightly from 2007 to 891 000 ha in 2008 due to reduction in total white maize planted.

Of the 1.0 million ha of yellow maize, 72% or 724 000 ha was biotech, representing 455 000 ha Bt, 131 000 ha herbicide-tolerant and 138 000 ha of stacked traits.

Of the estimated 230 000 ha soybeans, 184 000 ha or 80%, was biotech, all herbicide tolerant. Of the total cotton plantings of 13 000 ha or 90%, 12 000 ha was biotech, comprising 83% stacked traits, 9% herbicide tolerant and 7% Bt of the total biotech share.

It is clear from the 19% share of stacked traits of maize, up four-fold from 2007, and the stacked trait dominance in cotton, that combined traits efficiently address the multiple constraints to increased productivity.

The total hectarage of biotech crops in South Africa increased consistently from 197 000 ha in 2001 to 573 000 in 2004, reaching an all time record of 1.8 million ha in 2008.

ECONOMIC BENEFITS TO FARMERS

South African farmers – commercial and smallholders – have enjoyed significant financial benefits from biotech crops amounting to US$383 million during 1998-2007 (Brookes and Barfoot, 2008, forthcoming).

A study funded by the South African Maize Trust (Gouse and Van der Walt, 2008) showed that a total of 15 million metric tons of GM maize was produced on 4.2 million ha over nine years 2000–2008. Calculated at an average yield increase benefit of 10.6% (Gouse and Kirsten 2003) and using average annual grain prices over the period, maize farmers gained an additional income of R2 billion (US$ 267 million).

As maize is the staple food for millions of South Africans and beyond our borders, it is interesting to note that every year 40 million South Africans have in one way or another consumed GM food without a single medically or scientifically substantiated adverse effect on humans, animals or the environment.

Smallholder farmers have equally benefited financially from biotech crops, with yield increases of 31% more than conventional and 134% more than the conventional open pollinated varieties. (Gouse et al 2005)

FUTURE BIOTECH RESEARCH DEVELOPMENTS

Various advanced biotech research events in South Africa include:

• Drought tolerance and streak virus resistance in maize
• Biofortified GM sorghum
• Increased insect and herbicide resistant maize
• Tuber moth and virus resistant potatoes
• Drought-tolerant soybeans and groundnuts
• Maize with tolerance to two herbicides

AFRICA

Promising progress with biotech crops is taking place in Africa in which South Africa shares its rich biotech crop and technological experience with African countries.

In 2008 Egypt became the second country after South Africa to plant biotech maize commercially on 800 ha with a South African developed Bt maize hybrid.

Burkina Faso grew 8 500 ha of Bt cotton from seed multiplied in South Africa and supported by South African expertise. Mali is following suit.

Malawi approved their National Biotechnology Policy and Kenya approved their Biosafety Bill. Assisted by South African expertise, Kenya has been conducting contained trials on Bt cotton and maize at research stations for several years now. Uganda started GM banana trials in 2008.

GLOBALLY

According to the ISAAA report, said Dr Laubscher, global accumulated hectarage of biotech crops for the period 1996 to 2008 exceeded 2 billion acres (800 million ha) for the first time. It took 10 years to reach the first billion acres but only three years to reach the second billion acres. Of the 25 countries planting biotech crops, 90% of the 13.3 million farmers involved live in 15 developing countries.

Importantly, biotech crops resulted in reducing pesticide use by 359 000 tons of active ingredient.

The USA still leads the world with 65.5 million ha of biotech crops, followed by Argentina with 21 million, Brazil 15.8 million, and India and China with 7.6 million ha each.

In addition to the 25 countries planting commercialised biotech crops, an additional 30 countries have granted regulatory approval for the importation of biotech crops for food and feed use.

Seven EU countries increased their Bt maize hectarage by 21% totalling 107 000 ha (88.673 ha in 2007). Spain leads with nearly 80 000 ha.

Globally, biotech soybean continued to be the principal biotech crop, 65.8 million ha, maize follows with 37.3 million ha, and cotton with 15.5 million ha. A new biotech crop, herbicide tolerant sugar beet, was commercialised in the USA and Canada.

Herbicide tolerance deployed in soybean, maize, canola, cotton and lucern occupied 65% of global GM plantings. Stacked trait products were by far the fastest growing group between 2007 and 2008, namely 23%.

The largest increase in the number of beneficiary farmers in 2008 was India where an additional 1.2 million smallholder farmers planted Bt cotton. In total 5 million smallholder Indian farmers planted 7.6 million ha of Bt cotton, an adoption rate of 82%.

GM production gain of 32 million tonnes in 2007 would have required 10 million extra ha had biotech crops not been deployed. Production gain from biotech crops 1996-2007 was 141 million tons. At 2007 average yields, this would have required 43 million additional hectares without biotech crops.

For more information, contact Dr Wynand van der Walt, FoodNCropBio consulting services at 012 324 6334/ 083 468 3471.

February 2009
Issued on behalf of ISAAA
Issued by Hans Lombard Public Relations T. 011-476-6926