Developing Countries Dominate Global Production of Biotech Crops

The world is different today than how it was 17 years ago. Seventeen years ago, there were only 5.8 billion people in the world (The World Bank). Today, the world’s population has grown to more than 7 billion (Population Reference Bureau), and is estimated to be at a staggering 8 billion by 2030, or 17 years from now. Today, the world has more to feed, clothe, and shelter. Doing this on limited and decreasing resources and inputs is an insurmountable task – a challenge that has been met with a variety of options, including biotech crop technology.

The recently released 2012 Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops, authored by Clive James, ISAAA Board Chair, reports that an unprecedented 100-fold increase in global biotech crop plantings was recorded last year, from 1.7 million hectares in 1996 to 170.3 million hectares in 2012, making biotech crops the fastest adopted crop technology in recent history.

Seventeen years after the first biotech crop was commercialized, or almost two decades ago, developing countries, for the first time, have grown more biotech crops than industrial countries, producing 52 percent of the total global production in 2012. Of the 28 countries that planted biotech crops last year, 20 were developing, while only 8 industrial countries planted biotech crops, compared with 19 developing and 10 industrial countries in 2011.

From 1996 to 2012, millions of farmers in almost 30 countries worldwide made the decision to plant and replant biotech crops at an accumulated hectarage of more than 1.5 billion hectares. In 2012 alone, 17.3 million farmers grew biotech crops, up by 0.6 million from 2011, of which more than 90% or over 15 million are small, resource-poor farmers in developing countries.

Two new countries, both developing, planted biotech crops for the first time last year. Sudan planted Bt cotton, while Cuba grew Bt maize. Sudan is the fourth country in Africa to plant a biotech crop after South Africa, Burkina Faso, and Egypt. About 10,000 farmers were the initial beneficiaries of the technology who have an average of 1-2.5 hectares of land. In a similar development in Latin America, Cuba became the 11^th Latin American country to plant biotech crops. For the first time, Cuban farmers grew 3,000 hectares of hybrid Bt maize commercially.

Despite the enormous leap in biotech crop production of developing countries, the USA remained and continued its leadership in producing biotech crops in 2012 with 69.5 million hectares, an average adoption rate of ~90% across all biotech crops. Since 2006, the USA has planted eight biotech crops, namely: maize, soybean, cotton, canola, sugarbeet, alfalfa, papaya, and squash. 

Second to the USA, but emerging as a global leader in biotech crop production is Brazil, which produced 36.6 million hectares of biotech crops in 2012, a total of 6.3 million hectares more than its hectarage in 2011. For the fourth consecutive year, Brazil increased biotech crop plantings more than any other country in the world.

According to Clive James, the growth seen in global production of biotech crops is “contrary to the prediction of critics, who prior to the commercialization of the technology in 1996 prematurely declared that biotech crops were only for industrial countries, and would never be accepted and adopted by developing countries.” He added that risk-averse farmers put their trust and confidence in biotechnology because biotech crops deliver substantial, sustainable, socio-economic and environmental benefits. 

Biotech crops adoption from 1996 to 2011 has contributed to food security, sustainability and climate by increasing crop production valued at US$98.2 billion; providing a better environment by saving 473 million kg a.i. of pesticides; in 2011 alone, reducing CO₂ emissions by 23 billion kg, equivalent to taking 10.2 million cars off the road; conserving biodiversity by saving 108.7 million hectares of land; and helping poverty alleviation by helping more than 15 million small, resource-poor farmers and their families, totaling more than 50 million people who are some of the poorest in the world.

Farmers in India planted a record 10.8 million hectares of Bt cotton in 2012 with an adoption rate of 93%.

The near-term looks encouraging with new improved crops such as the first biotech drought tolerant maize approved for planting in the USA in 2013 and also the first planting of the stacked soybean in Brazil and neighboring countries in South America in 2013. Vitamin A enhanced Golden rice could be released in the Philippines by 2013/2014, subject to regulatory approval. Going forward, global growth of biotech crop hectares is likely to be more modest due to the already high rate of adoption in all the principal crops in mature markets in both developing and industrial countries, the author said.

For more information about ISAAA, the Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops Briefs, and other information resources, visit the ISAAA website at http://www.isaaa.org/.

ISAAA's Clive James Comments on the 2012 USDA Crop Acreage Report

In a commentary on the June 2012 USDA Crop Acreage Report, ISAAA's Founder and Board Chair Dr. Clive James, said that U.S. farmers continue to demonstrate overwhelming trust and confidence in biotech crops, and that global adoption of such crops is expected to continue to grow in the future, particularly in developing countries, where there is a promising pipeline of new products.

Biotech corn harvested in Camarines Sur province, Philippines. (ISAAA photo)

“Unprecedented high adoption rates are testimony to overwhelming trust and confidence in biotech crops by millions of farmers worldwide,” said Dr. James, who is also the author of ISAAA's annual Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops. He added that “Farmers are masters of risk aversion. As soon as biotech crops are commercialized, their adoption is rapid, leading to near or complete optimization  –  the simple reason for the success of biotech crops in the U.S., and in another 28 countries around the world, is that they generate significant and multiple benefits by reducing yield loss from insect pests, weeds and diseases, and also result in substantial savings of pesticides.”

Since its commercialization in 1996, 16.7 million farmers in 29 countries worldwide, including the U.S., planted 160 million hectares of biotech crops. Of these 29 countries planting biotech crops in 2011, 19 are developing while 10 are industrial countries.

In his commentary to the USDA Report, Dr. James noted the continuing trend to near-or complete optimization of the technology in three major U.S. crops, with 88% of all maize, 93% of all soybean, and 94% of all upland cotton planted to biotech varieties and hybrids featuring the two principal traits of insect resistance and herbicide tolerance.

Biotech soybean field in the United States. (USDA-ARS photo)

The current devastating drought in the U.S., that is badly affecting at least half of the maize crop, is generating increased interest in biotech drought tolerant maize which is currently being tested in extensive field trials. It is premature to comment on the performance of the biotech drought tolerant maize until the analysis of data from the field trials in the U.S. is completed later this year. Drought tolerance is an infinitely more complex trait than herbicide tolerance and insect resistance and progress is likely to be on a step by step basis. Encouraging results from the 2012 field tests in the U.S. for biotech drought tolerant maize would be a significant step forward to address drought, the most important constraint  to increasing crop productivity globally, to which both conventional and biotech applications can contribute.

Dr. James added that “the expected plateauing trend to optimal adoption rates of around 90 percent that we have seen in the U.S., has also been evident in other industrial countries like Australia with 99.5% adoption in biotech cotton.  Similarly, as expected, the major biotech crops in principal developing countries exhibit the same trend, again confirming the trust and confidence of farmers in the technology. Herbicide tolerant soybean has virtually reached 100 percent in Argentina and the latest ISAAA data for 2011 shows Bt cotton in India at 88%, and biotech soybean in Brazil at 83%. Given that products in mature markets are already plateauing at close to optimal rates, incremental annual growth in adoption will be more modest and will be boosted as: 1.) additional hectares are planted, as was the case with total maize plantings in the US in 2012 (up 5%); 2.) new traits or new biotech crops are approved; or 3.) new countries adopt biotech crops.”

The full news release is available free for download at ISAAA's website here: http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/pressrelease/2012/default.asp

Related materials on ISAAA's 2011 Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops, including the translations of the Executive Summary and Highlights are available at: http://www.isaaa.org/resources/publications/briefs/43/default.asp

A new set of 15 Biotech Country Facts and Trends are also available free for download at: http://www.isaaa.org/resources/publications/biotech_country_facts_and_trends/default.asp

Science and Popular Media: How Cartoonists Visualize Crop Biotechnology

Cartoons and other popular art forms such as comic strips and animation can sometimes be more powerful than words in conveying messages. They go beyond just giving information. By reflecting on popular

contemporary ideas, cartoons elicit emotions that encourage interest, inquiry, and empathy. Readers are attracted to cartoons because of its subtle humor and ability to communicate several messages in a visual and simple way. ISAAA's fourth and newest monograph in its Biotech Communication Series titled "Science and Popular Media: How Cartoonists Visualize Crop Biotechnology" explores cartoons and how they are used in communicating science.

Cartoons as Popular Media

Studies have shown that the mass media is the most frequently used source of information on science and technology. Reporters and cartoonists interpret events and societal concerns which may border on perception and perceived reality. These symbolic representations contribute to the formation of public opinion. It is important therefore to understand how media “defines” biotechnology as it contributes to informal learning and decision making.

The value of cartoons lies in the fact that public perception is often defined by a visual image. For example, the visual portrayal of “scientist” is often a detached, impersonal character in white lab coat and eyeglasses or stereotyped as having powers to wreak havoc on mankind. Neither of these two stereotypes is accurate but the general images are what the public sees and ascribes to the word “scientist”. On the other hand, cartoons can be effective channels in science education. A novel tool in science communication is the combination of caricature and satire in presenting science concepts. Cartoons are able to humor and at the same time convey scientific information in a simple, understandable, and interesting manner.

Visual Media and Biotechnology

ISAAA conducted an online and manual search of articles on biotechnology from 2000 to 2009 to determine Philippine media coverage. From a list of 1,355 articles collected from three national newspapers, a sample set of 22 cartoon illustrations or editorial cartoons was evaluated in terms of message, tone, and use of framing device, characters, and visual metaphors.

While the Manila Bulletin and Philippine Star accounted for about 70% for all newspaper articles on crop
biotechnology, about 59% of cartoons were generated by at least five artists of the Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI). The cartoons provided the visual counterpart to the text in the absence of photos. The PDI had the only female artist among the 11 cartoonists, however, she was responsible for contributing the most number of cartoons for the period. Four of the identified cartoonists were senior artists who also did the editorial cartoons of their respective newspapers or had regular individual comic strips.

Majority of cartoons in the initial years of biotech reporting were generally negative in tone, preferred the fear appeal, and used exaggeration in the absence of concrete products and unfamiliarity with the concept. They often reflected the articles they accompanied. 

 With the commercialization of a biotech crop, cartoons were more positive in perspective, highlighting the technology’s benefits.

BiotechTOONs 

In 2011, ISAAA and the SEAMEO Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA)-Biotechnology Information Center organized BiotechToons, a contest for cartoonists on biotechnology, in collaboration with the Philippine International Cartoons, Comics, and Animation, (PICCA), Inc. When provided with science-based resources in media and expert formats, cartoonists were able to provide a broader perspective or more substantive overview of the technology.

1st Place, Professional Category: Norman B. Isaac

Adding Value to Cartoons

The use of cartoons in the popularization of science and technology in general and biotechnology in particular is a continuing activity. The BiotechToons exhibit is shown during events sponsored by academic institutions and research and development agencies. Biotech cartoons are used in publications, story boards, workshop presentations as well as in designs for institutional giveaways. Aside from the Philippines, other countries within the ISAAA biotech information network such as China, Kenya, and India are using different cartoon formats to help popularize crop biotechnology concepts and issues.

Biotech sQuizBox
Biotech sQuizBox is an accordion-type cartoon publication that aims to inform secondary school students about crop biotechnology. One side of the booklet contains snippets of basic information about the history, development, and benefits of biotech crops. The other side of the booklet challenges the readers to answer exciting quizzes to further understand the subject matter. The activities include DNA extraction exercise, scientist appreciation activity, puzzles, and word problem, which can be done individually or as a group in science classes.

Mandy and Fanny
Biotechnology Information Centers (BICS) are also using cartoons in their public awareness activities. India BIC developed a 60-page educational publication Mandy and Fanny: The Future of Sustainable Agriculture, a tale of two biotech crops (Mandy as corn and Fanny as cotton). The cartoon characters discuss the attributes of biotech/genetically modified (GM) crops, and how they are gaining rapid adoption, increasing income and creating an impact on millions of farmers and consumers worldwide. Inspired by the cartoon book developed by India, the BIC in East and Central Africa produced its own version entitled Adventures of Mandy and Fanny in Kenya. It narrates the story of the maize and cotton characters that take an educational tour in the country and interact with major stakeholders (government representatives, politicians and opinion leaders, journalists, farmers and consumers). During the tour, they give insights on biotechnology and its benefits and correct misconceptions.

Lele, Dodo, and Mimi
China BIC also uses cartoons in their story boards to introduce principles, applications, safety assessment, benefits and related issues on genetic modification. These story boards are used during the Biotechnology into Campus series, where students learn in a fun way through games, plays, and story telling. Three key biotech crops in China are portrayed by Dodo (cotton), Lele (corn), and Mimi (rice).

Symbols, icons, lines, and words – these are the codes and tools that cartoonists use to simplify complex messages and transform multiple concepts into condensed ideas. Within a small space, visual metaphors masked through humor, wit, satire, and exaggeration enable a community of readers to share common concerns, values, beliefs, and aspirations. Cartoons as a popular art form can contribute to greater awareness and understanding of the technology through the use of images that the public can relate to. These visual media can be a springboard into a transparent debate and discussion on a technology that has benefits just waiting to be tapped. By providing science-based information to cartoonists, particularly those in the mass media, these visual communicators can play an important role in making this possible.

More details on the above topics are included in the monograph, available to view online and download at http://www.isaaa.org/resources/publications/science_and_popular_media_how_cartoonists_visualize_crop_biotechnology/download/default.asp.

ISAAA's Biotech Communication Series and other information resources are all available for free at http://www.isaaa.org/resources/publications/default.asp.

Islamic Scholars and Scientists Present Resolutions on Modern Biotechnology

Religious scholars have a tremendous potential in helping the public towards understanding biotechnology. In most countries, religious scholars have great public trust and considered as credible sources of information during time of crisis or when emerging technologies start to have impact on everyday life. Mosques and churches often become platforms for discussion and deliberation of such issues. Religious scholars are also often consulted by the government on issues related to bioethics and halal status of biotechnology products.

However, there is limited dialogue and discussion between scientists and religious scholars which creates a knowledge and communication barrier between the two groups. For religious scholars to play an effective role in addressing public concerns and ethical issues related to modern biotechnology, consultation between scientists and religious scholars has to be an ongoing process.

A workshop was organized with a focus on agribiotechnology and Muslim scholars to begin engagement of religious scholars with modern biotechnology. With Malaysia being a predominantly Muslim country, and with Shariah law governing the life of every Muslim, this was an obvious choice. All Muslim countries are far from being self-sufficient in terms of food production. Being net importers of food and with the yearly increase in the cultivation of genetically modified (GM) crops, the halal status of foods from GM crops becomes a topical issue. A record of 15.4 million farmers in 29 countries planted GM crops on 148 million hectares of land. The four main crops are soybean, cotton, canola and corn. These four crops give rise to hundreds of products that are used in almost every food consumed daily. Therefore, there is a strong and valid need to evaluate the halal status of products that comes from GM technology. The scientists involved in agricultural biotechnology too, have to understand the concerns and needs of the Muslim community who make up more than 20 per cent of the global population.

Religious scholars and Muslim scientists from Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the USA converged to discuss agribiotechnology and its permissibility in Islam in Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia on December 1 and 2, 2010. High level discussion on the technicality of recombinant technology and principles of shariah took place which resulted in the adoption of a resolution that states the halal status of GM products, the need for modern biotechnology in the Muslim world and the obligation of Muslim community in harnessing this beneficial technology.

Malaysia Biotechnology Information Center (MABIC), the International Halal Integrity Alliance (IHIA), and ISAAA co-organized the international workshop with a focus on alleviating the existing food problems and poverty. The International Workshop of Islamic Scholars and Experts in Modern Biotechnolgy on “Agri-biotechnology: Shariah Compliance” agreed upon the following resolutions:

1. Islam and science are complementary and Islam supports beneficial scientific innovations for mankind. Modern biotechnology and genetic engineering are important developments that merit promotion in all OIC Members. Regulatory measures should facilitate the acceptance and use of GM products particularly by Muslims. Genetic modification and GM products are Halal as long as the sources from which they originate are Halal. The only Haram cases are limited to products derived from Haram origin retaining their original characteristics that are not substantially changed.
2. Modern biotechnology and genetic engineering are methods of plant improvement and intrinsically are not different from other plant improvement techniques from the shariah point of view.
3. In ensuring food security, our Islamic obligations require us to urge all Muslim countries, governments, international organizations and research institutions, to support research and development and use of modern biotechnology, genetic engineering and their products.
4. Because of their positive impacts on agriculture and the urgency of food security for Muslim Ummah, promotion of modern biotechnology and genetic engineering are considered “Fardhu Kifayah” (collective obligation) and should not be neglected from the shariah point of view.
5. Public awareness and education on modern biotechnology and genetic engineering, demand continuous interaction between the Islamic scholars, scientists and the general public.
6. Transparent and complete scientific information should be available for the interested stakeholders for informed decision making.

The proceedings of this international workshop is available for free download at http://www.isaaa.org/resources/publications/shariah_compliance/download/default.asp

For more information materials, visit the biotech information resources page at ISAAA's websitehere: http://www.isaaa.org/resources/default.asp.

ISAAA Releases 40th Pocket K!

ISAAA publishes the 40th title in the Pocket K series titled, "Biotechnology for the Livestock Industry". The new Pocket K discusses the biotechnology tools employed in livestock improvement.

Topics included in the Pocket K include: Reproductive Animal Biotechnologies such as artificial insemination, embryo transfer, in-vitro fertilization, and somatic cell nuclear transfer; Applications of genomics and marker-assisted selection; and future initiatives in DNA-based technology for livestock improvement.

Pockets of Knowledge (Pocket Ks) are packaged information on biotechnologies in easy to understand style and format that is easily shared and distributed. Previous topics include, among others, genetic engineering and GM crops, functional foods and biotechnology, RNAi for crop improvement, marker-free GM plants, and nanotechnology in agriculture.

Pocket K 40 is now available at the ISAAA website at http://www.isaaa.org/resources/publications/pocketk/40/default.asp.

For more information materials, visit the biotech information resources page at ISAAA's website here: http://www.isaaa.org/resources/default.asp.

New ISAAA Publication: Biotech sQuizBox

ISAAA's Global Knowledge Center on Crop Biotechnology released a new educational booklet called Biotech sQuizBox during the convention of the Biotechnology Coalition of the Philippines (BCP) at Traders Hotel, Manila on 17-18 May 2012.

Biotech sQuizBox is an accordion-type cartoon publication that aims to inform secondary school students about crop biotechnology. One side of the booklet contains snippets of basic information about the history, development, and benefits of biotech crops. The other side of the booklet challenges the readers to answer exciting quizzes to further understand the subject matter. The activities include DNA extraction exercise, scientist appreciation activity, puzzles, and word problem, which can be done individually or as a group in science classes.

The publication was illustrated by Stephanie Bravo-Semilla, a cartoonist from the Philippine Daily Inquirer, and second prize winner of BiotechTOONS Contest organized by ISAAA and Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture – Biotechnology Information Center (SEARCA BIC) in November 2011.

The Biotech sQuixBox is available for download from ISAAA's website at  http://www.isaaa.org/resources/publications/biotech_squizbox/2012/download/default.asp.

For more information materials, visit the biotech information resources page at ISAAA's website here: http://www.isaaa.org/resources/default.asp.

New ISAAA Publication: Adoption and Uptake Pathways of Biotech Crops in the Philippines

A team of researchers from the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) conducted a survey in 2011 to analyze how biotech corn farmers in the Philippines started to adopt the technology. The results of their study showed that peer and kinship systems facilitate the adoption and uptake pathways of biotech corn in selected provinces of Luzon.

Dr. Cleofe Torres and her team noted that the changes in the lives of farmers who adopted Bt corn include increased yield and income. They also found out that seed technicians played an important role in the adoption process as they convinced farmers to plant biotech crops. Traders, on the other hand, provided farmers with capital to buy seeds and other needed farm inputs. The farmers surveyed also said that they are anticipating the commercial release of other Bt crops such as Bt eggplant.

The results of the UPLB study are now published in a monograph entitled "Adoption and Update Pathways of Biotechnology Crops: The case of Biotech Corn Farmers in Selected Provinces of Luzon, Philippines" that ISAAA co-published with the College of Development communication, UPLB (CDC-UPLB) and the Southeast Asia Regional Center for Graduate Study and REsearch in Agriculture (SEARCA).

The monograph is available for free download from ISAAA's website at http://www.isaaa.org/resources/publications/adoption_and_uptake_pathways_of_bioech_crops/download/.

For more information materials, visit the biotech information resources page at ISAAA's website here: http://www.isaaa.org/resources/default.asp.