Growing area of ​​GM crops in Brazil

The International Agricultural Biotechnology Application Service Organization announced on the 8th that in 2011, the planting area of ​​GM crops in Brazil increased by 20% to 30.3 million hectares. This shows that the country’s agricultural production is increasingly dependent on genetically modified technology.

According to Andersson Galvan, representative of the International Agency for the Application of Agricultural Biotechnology Services in Brazil, Brazil is currently the world’s second-largest producer of genetically modified crops, and the expansion of planting area is the fastest, with soybean, corn and cotton being particularly prominent.

Last year, Brazil planted 20.60 million hectares of genetically modified soybeans, an increase of 15.7% over the previous year. Brazil has the largest planting of genetically modified soybeans, accounting for 68% of all genetically modified crops. Genetically modified soybean production accounts for 82% of all soybean production in the country.

Last year, the planting area of ​​GM maize in Brazil reached 7.3 million hectares, an increase of 24.7% over the previous year. The planting area of ​​transgenic cotton also reached 600,000 hectares, an increase of 50% over the previous year.

In addition to soybeans, maize, and cotton, Brazil has 29 transgenic crops that have been genetically modified. Galvain pointed out that relying on the rapid promotion of genetically modified technology, Brazil has been able to significantly increase agricultural productivity and production, and may surpass the United States in the next 10 years to become the world's highest grain output country.