28 Years of Global Commercialization of Genetically Modified Crops

This year marks the 42nd year of global biotechnology/ genetically modified (GM) being put into practical application and the 28th year of commercialization of biotechnology/GM crops, and the modern seed industry has entered the 4.0 era of "conventional breeding + modern biotechnology breeding + information breeding".

Transgenic breeding is an important aspect of biological breeding, and it is also the modern biological breeding technology with the fastest development speed, the widest application range and the greatest industrial influence in the world so far.

Global Competition Kicks Off

Scientists don't just transfer genes from one organism to another on a whim.

In 1946, scientists discovered the phenomenon of natural transgenes among some bacteria. Inspired by this phenomenon, imaginative scientists began to imagine whether genes could be manipulated artificially, and started a brave attempt.

In 1953, Watson and Crick discovered the double helix structure of the DNA molecule, which opened the door to molecular biology and laid the foundation for genetic technology.

In 1974, Cohen transferred the penicillin-resistant gene from the plasmid of Staphylococcus aureus into Escherichia coli, which opened the prelude to the application of transgenic technology.

In 1982, Lilly Corporation first realized the production of recombinant insulin using E. coli, marking the birth of the world's first genetically engineered drug.

Subsequently, the application of GM technology has been expanded, and in 1994, the FDA approved the first GM plant food: GM tomatoes.

By 1995, the GM foods that had been approved for marketing in the United States included: corn and potatoes with herbicide-resistant genes, soybeans with pesticide-resistant genes, and pumpkins with anti-virus genes.

Since 1996, large-scale commercial planting of GM crops has begun, and agricultural GM technology has begun to be widely used.

Since the commercial application of GM crops, a total of 71 countries/regions around the world have issued regulatory approvals for GM crops for human food, animal feed and commercial planting purposes; 29 countries have planted GM crops successively, and the cumulative area of GM crops grown worldwide has reached 2.7 billion hectares. (Data statistics as of 2019)

From the perspective of planting proportion, in the major countries that have approved commercial planting, the planting proportion of GM crops is close to saturation (global planting ratio of major GM crops: cotton 79%, soybean 74%, corn 31%, rape 27%).

Countries Accelerate the Layout of GM - Major Commercialized Countries Near Saturation Planting Ratio

Since the commercialization of GM crops in 1996, global R&D and commercialization of GM technology have gained momentum, and developed countries have made GM technology a strategic priority to seize the high ground in science and technology and enhance international competitiveness in agriculture.

Among them, the United States, Brazil, Argentina, Canada and India are the top five countries in the world in terms of planted area of GM crops, with a total planted area of 172.7 million hectares, accounting for 91% of the global planted area.

The United States, which ranks first, has a total planted area of 71.5 million hectares of GM crops in 2019, accounting for 38% of the total global planted area, and occupies a clearly dominant position in the development of the global GM industry.

The level of GM research and development in Europe was once ahead of the United States, but then the attitude tended to be conservative and now lags significantly behind the United States.

Latin America has been positive in its approach to GM crops, with 10 countries now widely cultivating GM crops, and Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Bolivia all ranking among the top 10 countries in the world in terms of GM acreage.

Over the past 23 years (1996-2018), GM crops have generated $224.9 billion in economic benefits globally, benefiting 16-17 million farmers (95% of whom are from developing countries).