Biotech benefits

Database of the Safety and Benefits of Biotechnology

Welcome to the CropLife International database of published papers and reviews demonstrating the benefits and safety implications associated with the use of agricultural biotechnology products.

In 2018, 26 countries grew 191.7 million hectares of biotech crops – an increase of 1.9 million hectares from 2017. The average biotech crop adoption rate in the top five biotech crop-growing countries increased in 2018 to reach close to saturation, with USA at 93.3% (average for soybeans, maize, and canola adoption), Brazil (93%), Argentina (~100%), Canada (92.5%), and India (95%). Future expansion of biotech crop areas in these countries would be through immediate approval and commercialization of new biotech crops and traits to target problems related to climate change and the emergence of new pests and diseases.

Biotech crops however have already expanded beyond the big four (maize, soybeans, cotton, and canola) to give more choices for many of the world’s consumers and food producers. These biotech crops include alfalfa, sugar beets, papaya, squash, eggplant, potatoes, and apples, all of which are already in the market.

Key references:

Brief 54: Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops: 2018

While studies recording, demonstrating and quantifying the benefits of biotechnology are available, they can be difficult to find. The purpose of this database is to enable you to quickly and easily locate and access credible scientific information about the demonstrated benefits of agricultural biotechnology products and the safety implications associated with their use.

All the papers have either been published in peer-reviewed journals or have been prepared by organisations that have summarised peer-reviewed studies.
Papers are organised primarily by the different categories of impact of biotechnology, with links on the left column to each impact category. Clicking on the link provides a summary and description of the impact and a list of papers in the database that relate to the relevant impact category.

The database search allows you to further specify your filters to find the right paper of interest. This option is interactive with the search results updating as soon as a parameter is changed.

The list of studies is being continuously added to and updated, and your suggestions for the inclusion of additional studies are welcome via this form.

Recent Papers

  1. Transgenic cotton expressing Mpp51Aa2 does not adversely impact beneficial non-target hemiptera in the field
    (2023) Asiimwe P, Brown CR, Ellsworth PC, Reisig DD, Bertho L, Jiang C, et al.
  2. A sub-chronic feeding study of dual toxin insect-resistant transgenic maize (CEMB-413) on Wistar rats
    (2023) Liaqat A, Salisu IB, Bakhsh A, Ali Q, Imran A, Ali MA
  3. Assessment of Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab proteins in pollen of various transgenic cotton cultivars and effect on Apis mellifera L. colonies’ development
    (2023) Bajaj K, Chhuneja PK, Singh J, Choudhary A, Mohindru B
  4. Extended one generation reproductive toxicity study and effect on gut flora of genetically modified rice rich in β-carotene in wistar rats
    (2023) Xia Y, Zuo S, Zheng Y, Yang W, Tang X, et al.
  5. Chronic Toxicity of Genetically Modified Maize with Cry1Ab-ma Gene and Its Effect on Serum Metabolites in Rats
    (2023) Wang Y, Hu Y-C, Lu J-X, Mao D-Q, Wang R, Liu X-B, Chen J, Wu W-X, Li M