Biosafety a priority for South Africa

While South Africa is in favour of GMOs, biosafety is a matter of concern for its government not only in terms of GMO in food but also in terms of food products entering the country's borders. According to the Department of Agriculture strides were being made in biosafety and promoting a clear, balanced understanding of the potential of biotechnology and to ensure broad public awareness, dialogue and debate about biotechnology. A substantial part of South Africa's large maize production is already transgenic or effected by GM technology. Local soya and cotton crops also have a GM component. Also, as yet there is no segregation between GM and non-GM foods in South Africa.

India’s cotton output to rise 11 percent: GM cotton or good rainfall?

According to Cotton Corp. of India Ltd, cotton output in India, the world’s second biggest producer, may rise 11 percent next year on higher yields from GM varieties and good rains. Output may total 35 million bales in the year from October compared with about 31.5 million bales this year. An Indian bale weighs 170kg. Higher output may boost exports to countries including China, the biggest user of the fibre, and increase competition for supplies from US and Uzbekistan. India’s average yield has almost doubled to 560 kg per ha since 2002. The area under GM cotton may also increase next year to about 8.5 million ha. 

GM cultivation at 60 million hectares in the US

In 2008, GM crops in the US were cultivated on almost 60 million hectares. This represents a growth of ten per cent in comparison to 2007, according to cultivation statistics published on 30th June by the US Department of Agriculture. A significant expansion of GM lines has been observed for maize. The cultivation of GM types now represents 80 percent of all planted maize. In the case of soybean, GM varieties have attained near-exclusivity. GM cotton has fallen slightly from 87 to 86 per cent. The official cultivation statistics of the US Department of Agriculture are published each year in June and are processed by the National Agricultural Statistics Service based on the evaluation of seed sales and on representative polls of farmers.