21) Genetically modified crops in the United States

The United States is the world leader in the production of biotechnology crops.

The United States accounts for nearly two-thirds of all biotechnology crops planted worldwide. The GMO food crops grown by American farmers include corn, cotton, soybeans, canola, squash, and papaya. Other major producers of GMO crops include Argentina, which primarily grows biotech soybeans; Canada, whose main biotech crop is canola; Brazil, which recently legalized the cultivation of GMO soybeans; China, where the acreage of GMO cotton continues to grow; and South Africa, where cotton is also the primary biotech crop.

Globally, approximately 672 million acres of land are cultivated, of which 25% or 167.2 million acres—an area more than twice the size of the United Kingdom—were dedicated to GMO crops in 2003. Since 1996, the United States has consistently planted more GMO crops than any other country, with 105.7 million acres dedicated to GMO crops in 2003. Argentina is the second-largest producer, with 34.4 million acres, followed by Canada with 10.9 million acres, Brazil with 8.4 million acres, China with 6.9 million acres, and South Africa with 1.0 million acres in 2003. Together, these six countries accounted for 99% of the global acreage of GMO crops that year. Australia, Mexico, Romania, Bulgaria, Spain, Germany, Uruguay, Indonesia, the Philippines, India, Colombia, and Honduras also planted significant areas of GMO crops in 2003.

The number of farmers growing GMO crops has also increased over the past three years. In 2000, 3.5 million farmers were growing GMO crops. This number has nearly doubled, reaching an estimated total of seven million farmers growing GMO crops in 2003. More than 85% of the farmers who planted GMO crops in 2003 were resource-poor farmers, including Bt cotton growers in China and South Africa.

American Farmers Continue to Increase GMO Crops

In 1996, 1.6 million hectares of transgenic crops were planted in six countries. By 2003, this figure had reached 65.8 million hectares in 18 countries across six continents, representing a 40-fold increase in eight years. The adoption of transgenic crops was the fastest in the United States, where the area planted with transgenic crops increased 27-fold during the same eight-year period (from 1.5 million hectares in 1996 to 42.8 million hectares in 2003).

Major Genetically Modified Crops Produced in the United States

In the United States, the three major GM crops currently being grown are corn, soybeans, and cotton.

In 2001, 68% of U.S. soybeans were genetically modified, covering 50.4 million acres. Biotech varieties (including herbicide- and insect-resistant types) accounted for about 26% (19.7 million acres) of corn and 69% (10.9 million acres) of cotton planted in the United States in 2001.

In 2002, genetically modified soybean varieties planted in the United States increased to 75% of the total soybeans sown—an increase of 3.5 million acres, for a total of 54 million acres. Plantings of GMO corn rose by 5.6 million acres to reach a total of 25.3 million acres, representing 32% of all corn planted in the United States. Although the share of GMO cotton in the total cotton crops planted in the United States increased to 71% in 2002, the overall area of cotton, as well as that of GMO cotton, decreased by six percent and five percent, respectively, in 2002.

In 2003, American farmers increased plantings of GMO soybeans to 59.7 million acres, accounting for 81% of all soybeans planted in the United States. Plantings of GMO corn also rose to reach 40% (31.6 million acres) of U.S. corn production. As in 2002, the area dedicated to cotton cultivation, as well as that of GMO varieties in particular, decreased in the United States (13.9 million acres and 10.2 million acres, respectively). GMO varieties accounted for 73% of all cotton grown, which, despite the decrease in actual acreage, represents an increase in the percentage of cotton planted with GMO varieties compared to the previous year.

In 2004, the percentage of American soybeans planted with genetically modified varieties increased again, reaching 85% of all soybeans planted. This reflects an increase of 3.9 million acres, for a total of 63.6 million acres of GMO soybeans. The percentage of GMO corn rose to 45% of all U.S. corn planted, with farmers planting 4.9 million acres more than in 2003, totaling 36.5 million acres of GMO corn. For the first time in three years, the total area of cotton in the United States increased. The share of genetically modified cotton—a total of 10.6 million acres—grew by three percent compared to 2003, reaching 76% in 2004.

Other GMO crops currently grown in the United States include canola, squash, and papaya. Approximately 54% of all canola grown in the United States in 2001 was genetically modified, according to industry estimates. While more than 50% of the papayas grown in the United States (all in Hawaii) are GMO, other commercially available GMO crops, such as sugar beets, potatoes, and sweet corn, have not yet been widely adopted by farmers.

* This estimate is based on the "Papaya Acreage Survey Result August 2002" from the National Agricultural Statistics Service. The estimate does not include the acreage of the Sun-Up variety, a GMO papaya, which is grouped with other unknown varieties in the "Other" category of this report. The "Other" category represents 4% of all papayas planted in 2002.

Conclusion

Genetically modified (GMO) crops continue to play a dominant role in global agriculture, with the United States leading the list of producers. While proponents of GMOs highlight their potential benefits, including resistance to herbicides and pests, critics of this technology emphasize significant negative impacts that cannot be overlooked.

Premièrement, GMOs can lead to a loss of biodiversity. The dominance of GMO crops, such as corn, soybeans, and cotton, reduces the diversity of cultivated species, which can have detrimental effects on local ecosystems. This monoculture encourages dependence on specific chemicals, such as herbicides, and can harm soils and pollinators.

Deuxièmement, The risks to human health are not fully understood. While GMOs are considered safe by some organizations, concerns remain regarding their long-term effects on health. Studies on the impacts of GMOs on human health are still limited, and the lack of comprehensive data raises legitimate questions.

Troisièmement, GMOs can exacerbate economic inequalities. Large biotechnology companies, which control patents and GMO seeds, can impose high costs on farmers, particularly in developing countries. This situation can lead to increased dependence of farmers on multinationals and reduce their autonomy.

Quatrièmement, The emergence of resistance to herbicides and insecticides is a growing concern. The intensive use of herbicide-resistant GM crops has led to the emergence of resistant weeds, requiring increasing amounts of chemicals to control them. Similarly, pest insects are developing resistance to the Bt proteins produced by GMO plants, thus reducing the effectiveness of these crops.

In conclusion, while GMOs may offer certain technical advantages, environmental, health, and economic concerns require critical attention and further assessment. A cautious approach and increased transparency are essential to ensure that the benefits of GMOs do not outweigh their potential negative impacts.