In May 2026, the International Agricultural Biotechnology Advisory Council released the “Global Review of Transgenic Crops Area (May 2026)”. The report indicated that the global planting area of transgenic crops reached 216 million hectares (approximately 3.24 billion acres) in 2025, representing a year-on-year increase of 2.5% and setting a new record high. This article will help you summarize the core content of this report and give you an overview of the latest global landscape of transgenic crop cultivation.
I. Global Overview: Steady Growth, Records Continuously Set
Since the first commercialization of genetically modified crops in 1996, the global planting area has generally maintained an upward trend. By 2025, a total of 30 countries worldwide had planted 11 types of genetically modified crops, covering a total area of 216 million hectares.
What does this figure represent? It is equivalent to the combined area of two Jiangsu provinces, or one-third of the arable land in the entire South America. From the growth curve, between 2020 and 2025, the global area of genetically modified crops increased from 189 million hectares to 216 million hectares, with an average annual growth rate of approximately 2.7%. Among them, the growth rates in 2021 and 2022 were relatively fast (both exceeding 3.5%), and in the past two years, it has remained stable at around 2.5%.
II. Crop Rankings: Soybeans and corn dominate the market.
Among the 216 million hectares of genetically modified crops worldwide, soybeans occupy the largest area of 106.2 million hectares, accounting for 49.2% of the total global area – that is to say, for every two hectares of genetically modified crops, one hectare is soybeans.
The second place goes to corn, with an area of 74.6 million hectares, accounting for 34.6%, and its growth rate has increased by as much as 7.9%, making it the fastest-growing major crop.
Canola (also known as rapeseed) ranked fourth with an area of 10.8 million hectares, accounting for 5.0%, and also experienced a slight decline.
Other crops such as alfalfa, sugar beets, sugar cane, wheat, and cowpeas collectively account for less than 1%. It is worth noting that although the areas of genetically modified wheat and sugar cane are small (approximately 110,000 hectares and 1.4 million hectares respectively), they have experienced astonishing growth rates, reaching 14.2% and 44.0% respectively, demonstrating the commercial potential of new varieties.
In terms of the global planting rate of genetically modified crops (that is, the proportion of genetically modified area to the total area of the crop), cotton leads with 76.7%, followed by soybeans at 73.9%, corn at 35.8%, and rapeseed at 24.8%.
III. National Rankings: The United States and Brazil Dominating the Competition
The combined area of genetically modified crops in the United States and Brazil accounts for 67.2% of the global total. These two countries are truly the “two engines” driving the global growth. Although the United States still leads, its area has slightly decreased; Brazil, on the other hand, has maintained a steady growth, narrowing the gap with the United States to just 5.2 million hectares.
The most remarkable aspect: China’s growth rate is astonishing.
China ranks sixth globally with 620 million hectares (approximately 93 million acres), but its growth rate is as high as 79.0%, making it the country with the largest growth rate among the top ten.
This is mainly attributed to China’s accelerated promotion of the demonstration planting of genetically modified corn and soybeans in recent years. By 2025, the area of genetically modified corn in China will reach 3.2 million hectares (accounting for 7.1% of the total domestic corn area), the area of genetically modified soybeans will be approximately 100,000 hectares, and the area of genetically modified cotton will remain stable at 2.9 million hectares (accounting for over 95% of the total cotton area). The report particularly points out that China’s total corn planting area is as high as 45 million hectares, ranking first in the world. Once the penetration rate of genetically modified corn reaches a mature level, China is highly likely to become the world’s largest producer of genetically modified corn.
IV. Regional Pattern: The Americas Dominant, Asia Rising
Central and South America: With 103.6 million hectares ranking first (accounting for 48% of the global total), Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia, and Uruguay are the main producers.
North America: 86.8 million hectares (40%), consisting of the United States and Canada.
Asia-Pacific region: 22.1 million hectares (10.2%), with India, China, Australia, and Pakistan being the main contributors.
Africa: Approximately 3.4 million hectares (1.6%), with South Africa leading the way with 3.3 million hectares, and several other countries beginning to trial the cultivation of genetically modified cotton, cowpeas, and corn.
Europe: Only 70,000 hectares (negligible), with Spain and Portugal growing a small amount of genetically modified corn.
V. New Trends Worth Noting
Africa is “breaking ice”.
In 2025, Ghana became the 30th country in the world to commercially cultivate genetically modified cowpeas. Moreover, the area of genetically modified cotton in Kenya increased by 111%, Ethiopia is about to commercialize genetically modified corn, and Nigeria has already cultivated genetically modified cotton, cowpeas and corn. Africa is emerging as a new market for genetically modified crops.
2. Argentina was the first to commercialize genetically modified wheat.
Argentina was the first country in the world to commercially cultivate genetically modified wheat (in 2022). By 2025, the planting area would reach approximately 55,000 hectares, with the variety being HB4 wheat that is resistant to herbicides and drought. Although the area is still small, it holds significant importance – it marks a crucial step in the commercialization of genetically modified staple foods.
3. Continuous improvement of the quality technology
Global genetically modified crops have shifted from the earlier single traits (such as insect resistance or herbicide tolerance) to “stacked genes” (containing both insect resistance and herbicide tolerance). In the United States, the proportion of genetically modified corn and cotton varieties with stacked genes exceeds 84% and 87% respectively; in Brazil and Argentina, genetically modified soybeans are mainly of the stacked gene type.
VI. Opportunities and Challenges for China
Although the area of genetically modified crops in China is still relatively small (6.2 million hectares), its growth rate is the highest in the world (+79%), sending out a clear policy signal: the industrialization of biotechnology breeding is accelerating.
The report analysis suggests that China has the largest corn planting area in the world (45 million hectares). Once the penetration rate of genetically modified corn in China rises from the current 7.1% to the mature level (like over 90% in the United States), the area of genetically modified corn in China will exceed 40 million hectares, and then surpass the United States to become the world’s largest.
Meanwhile, the genetically modified cotton varieties independently developed by China (bred by the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences) have accounted for over 77% of the domestic Bt cotton area, demonstrating the country’s indigenous innovation capabilities.
Of course, China also faces challenges such as seed intellectual property protection, the pace of commercial promotion of genetically modified soybeans, and consumer acceptance. However, overall, China’s weight in the global genetically modified landscape is rapidly increasing.
Genetically modified crops remain an important tool for “stabilizing food production and increasing output”.
The data from 2025 shows that the global planting area of genetically modified crops has been increasing year after year. Genetic modification technology has become the mainstream in major crops such as soybeans, corn, and cotton. Against the backdrop of intensified climate change, limited arable land resources, and rising food demand, genetically modified crops, due to their advantages such as high yield, pest resistance, herbicide tolerance, and drought resistance, remain a practical choice for many countries to ensure food security and agricultural sustainability.
For China, in the year when the “14th Five-Year Plan” comes to an end, the commercialization pilot projects of genetically modified corn and soybeans have achieved initial success. Whether the planting area can be further expanded and the competitiveness of domestic varieties can be enhanced in the coming years is something that we should continue to pay attention to.
Post time: Sep-02-2026
