Global status of crop biotechnology acceptance
2001
Escaler, M. (International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA), DAPO 7777, Metro Manila (Philippines))
Few agricultural technologies in history have matched the rate at which biotechnology-based crops, often called genetically modified (GM) crops are being adopted. During the five-year period 1996-2000, the global area of biotech crops increased by more than 25-fold and the number of countries growing these crops more than doubled. In 1996, there were only 1.7 million hectares (mha) of biotech crops planted in the world while in 2000, this figure increased to 44.2 mha. The number of countries planting these crops went up from only 6 in 1996 to 13 in 2000. Most of the planting occurred in industrialized nations such as the USA and Canada. Significantly, in 2000, one quarter of the global area was grown in five developing countries - Argentina, China, South Africa, Mexico, and Uruguay. The experience of the last five years has demonstrated that the early promises of biotech crops are meeting expectations of large and small farmers in both industrial and developing countries. Benefits to farmers range from more convenient and flexible crop management, higher productivity, and a safer environment through decreased use of conventional pesticides. While there is still skepticism over the use of GM crops, government all over the world continue to support research and development of biotech crops, with the help of national scientific institutions. The adoption of GM crops is therefore predicted to grow rapidly in the next five years and most of the new hectarage will come from developing countries
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Este registro bibliográfico ha sido proporcionado por University of the Philippines at Los Baños