The world’s farmers have increased their use of genetically modified crops steadily and sharply since the technology became broadly commercialized in 1996; however, this will not be the case anymore.  The article states that 2015 was the first time the acreage used for the crops declined.  According to a nonprofit that tracks, the plantings of biotech seeds.  The organization said the main cause for the decline, which measured 1 percent from 2014 levels, was low commodity prices, which led farmers to plant less corn, soybeans and canola of all types, both genetically engineered and non-engineered.  Only three countries account for more than three-quarters of the total global acreage. And only four crops account for the majority of biotechnology use in agriculture.  In many cases, more than 90 percent of those four crops grown in those three countries, and in other large growers like Canada, India and China, is already genetically modified, leaving little room for expansion.

There have been efforts to expand use of biotechnology to other crops and to other countries. These have created difficulties due to opposition from consumer and environmental groups, regulatory hurdles and in some cases scientific obstacles.  The International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Application’s plan is to help small farmers in developing countries take advantage in biotechnology.  This in turn can increase farmer income and reduce use of chemical pesticides.  It receives financial support from various foundations, companies, trade groups and governments, including Monsanto and the United States government.  The overall acreage planted with biotech seeds in 2015 fell 1 percent globally to 444.0 million acres, from 448.5 million acres in 2014.  The crops were grown in 28 countries and used by up to 18 million farmers, most of them small ones in developing countries, the report said.  I guess we will just have to wait and see how this all plays out.  Allow more time to collect data and move from there.

References:

Pollack, Andrew. “Acreage for Genetically Modified Crops Declined in 2015.”The New York Times. The New York Times, 12 Apr. 2016. Web. 17 Apr. 2016.