Genetically modified (GM) crops have generated considerable interest in the United States and around the world since their commercial introduction in 1996.  To help clarify the extent to which GM crops have been adopted in the United States, the Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology has updated its fact sheet on domestic use of GM crops to include the most recent statistics available on 2003 activity.

The fact sheet, titled "GM Crops in the United States" was originally published in October 2001. The version released today includes facts and figures on GM crop use in the U.S., shows which GM crops U.S. farmers grow and the states where the most GM crops are planted. 

Highlights include:

• GM crops are planted on more than 145 million acres worldwide.

• U.S. Farmers are the largest producers of GM food crops, accounting for over two-thirds of all biotechnology crops planted globally (96.3 million acres).

• In 2003, 81% of U.S. soybeans were genetically engineered, covering 59.7 million acres.  GM corn accounted for 40% of all corn grown in the U.S, covering 31.6 million acres. GM cotton accounted 73% of all cotton planted in the U.S., covering 10.2 million acres.

• According to USDA data, farmers in every state in the continental U.S. planted some GM corn in 2001.

• South Dakota was the top adopter of GM corn and soybeans in 2003, with 75% of the corn and 91% of the soybeans planted being GM varieties. 

• Arkansas is the top adopter of GM cotton in 2003, with 95% of the acres planted being GM varieties.

• Outside the U.S., other major producers of GM crops include:  Argentina (33.3 million acres), Canada (8.6 million acres) and China (5.2 million acres).

• Between 5.5 and 6 million farmers worldwide planted GM crops in 2002, an increase by over 2 million from 2000.

The full issue brief is available at http://pewagbiotech.org/resources/factsheets/crops/