Mumbai:
Less than a decade after the first biotech crop was commercialised
in 1996, these crops are now being grown in 18 countries,
and research and development is being conducted in another
45, according to a study by a leading US food and trade
policy analyst.
"The
international adoption and diffusion of biotech crops
has gone global and is poised to transform production
and development around the world," says C. Ford Runge,
director of the University of Minnesota''s centre for international
food and agricultural policy. Runge, a distinguished McKnight
University professor of applied economics and law, says
"Tens of thousands of lab, greenhouse or field trials
have been conducted on about 57 food and fiber crops in
countries on every continent."
The
study, The Global Diffusion of Plant Biotechnology:
International Adoption and Research in 2004, reported
the global commercial value of biotech crops grown in
2003-04 crop year at US$44 billion, 98 per cent of that
value came from five countries the United States,
Argentina, China, Canada and Brazil. These countries grow
one or more of four biotech-enhanced crops: soybeans,
cotton, corn and canola.
To
date, the United States is the leader in producing biotech
crops, with $27.5 billion in value in 2003-04 from growing
biotech-enhanced soybeans, corn, cotton and canola. The
other top five countries in terms of current biotech production
include:
- Argentina
with $8.9 billion in value from soybeans and corn
- China
with $3.9 billion in value from cotton
- Canada
with $2 billion in value from canola, corn and soybeans
- Brazil
with $1.6 billion in value from soybeans
In
the next decade, as more developing countries grant approvals
to these and other biotech crops in development, some
studies estimate the global value of biotech crops will
increase nearly fivefold to $210 billion. Adoption of
these crops in developing countries could raise the gross
domestic product in those countries by 2 per cent.
While
India has commercially approved insect-resistant cotton,
researchers also have conducted field trials on drought-tolerant
canola, insect-resistant cotton and tobacco. Further experimental
research has been conducted on cabbage, potatoes, rice
and tomatoes.
Says
Runge, "We see continuing expansion of commercial
and scientific possibilities for plant biotechnology in
the next decade and beyond. Major expansion in biotech
crop approvals and plantings are expected in Asia, Latin
America and parts of Africa."
While
North America is the epicentre for plant biotechnology
research, more than half of the 63 countries engaged in
biotech research, development and production are developing
countries. Western Europe, China, Argentina, Brazil, South
Africa, Australia and India are centres of influence that
will help lead development into the future, the study
finds. China has emerged as a major centres for biotech
research. Its government has invested several hundred
million dollars, ranking it second in the world in biotech
research funding behind the United States.
According
to the study, other regions also are investing heavily
in biotech research to improve agricultural production
and rural incomes:
- South
Africa, which has already approved biotech varieties
of corn, cotton and soybeans for planting, now ranks
sixth in the world in the amount of acres planted with
biotech varieties. The country is poised to lead the
continent in development.
- India,
where farmers grow and sell insect-resistant cotton,
has at least 20 academic and research institutions involved
in plant biotech research covering 16 crops. Many Indian
scientists hope to usher in a second ''Green Revolution''
while adding another facet to its already-booming, knowledge-based
economy.
- In
Latin America and the Caribbean, five biotech crops
are now approved, and field trials are being conducted
on a variety of plants. Argentina leads the way, followed
by Brazil.
While biotech research and development in Europe slowed
significantly following the European Union''s 1999 de
facto moratorium on biotech crop approvals, which has
since been lifted, Europe''s stance on biotech crops
can not prevent biotech adoption in the rest of the
world.
"If
the European Union continues to restrict activity in the
sector, it will slow down this global diffusion, but it
cannot stop it," said Runge.
"If, on the other hand, the EU engaged plant biotechnology,
it will encourage rapid international diffusion and adoption."
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