The Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology has updated its
fact sheet on the amount, and types, of genetically modified
crops grown in the U.S. to include 2004 data recently released
by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The fact sheet, titled “Genetically Modified
Crops in the United States,” includes the following highlights
from 2004:
• An additional 3.9 million acres of genetically
modified soybeans were planted in the U.S. in 2004, increasing
the portion of US soybeans which are genetically modified from
81% in 2003 to 85% in 2004.
• U.S. farmers planted an additional 4.9 million
acres of genetically modified corn in 2004, increasing the
portion of U.S. corn which is genetically modified from 40% in
2003 to 45% in 2004.
• For the first time in three years, total
cotton acreage in the U.S. increased. The share of cotton which
is GM – a total of 10.6 million acres – also increased from 73%
in 2003 to 76% in 2004.
• South Dakota and Mississippi continue to adopt
genetically modified crops faster than other states. In 2004,
79% of all corn and 95% of all soybeans grown in South Dakota
were genetically modified. 97% of all cotton produced in
Mississippi was genetically modified.
The complete fact sheet is available at:
http://pewagbiotech.org/resources/factsheets/crops.
