Beijing (May 4, 2017) - Today, the International Service for the Acquisition
of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) released its annual report showcasing
the 110-fold increase in adoption rate of biotech crops globally in just 21
years of commercialization - growing from 1.7 million hectares in 1996 to
185.1 million hectares in 2016. ISAAA's report, "Global Status of
Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops: 2016," continues to demonstrate the
long-standing benefits of biotech crops for farmers in developing and
industrialized countries, as well as consumer benefits of recently approved
and commercialized varieties.

"Biotech crops have become a vital agricultural resource for farmers around
the world because of the immense benefits for improved productivity and
profitability, as well as conservation efforts," said ISAAA Chair of the
Board, Paul S. Teng. "With the commercial approvals and plantings of new
varieties of biotech potatoes and apples, consumers will begin to enjoy
direct benefits of biotechnology with produce that is not likely to spoil or
be damaged, which in turn has the potential to substantially reduce food
waste and consumer grocery costs."

Examining other benefits of biotechnology, ISAAA reports that the adoption
of biotech crops has reduced CO2 emissions equal to removing approximately
12 million cars from the road annually in recent years; conserved
biodiversity by removing 19.4 million hectares of land from agriculture in
2015; and decreased the environmental impact with a 19% reduction in
herbicide and insecticide use.1 Additionally, in developing countries,
planting biotech crops has helped alleviate hunger by increasing the incomes
for 18 million small farmers and their families, bringing improved financial
stability to more than 65 million people.

"Biotechnology is one of the tools necessary in helping farmers grow more
food on less land," explained ISAAA Global Coordinator Randy Hautea.
"However, the promises of biotech crops can only be unlocked if farmers are
able to buy and plant these crops, following a scientific approach to
regulatory reviews and approvals."

As more varieties of biotech crops are approved and commercialized for use
by farmers, ISAAA expects to see adoption rates continue to climb and to
benefit farmers in developing countries. For example, among African nations
where regulatory processes have traditionally created barriers to biotech
crop adoption rates, advances are being realized. In 2016, South Africa and
Sudan increased the planting of biotech maize, soybean and cotton to 2.66
million hectares from 2.29 million hectares in 2015. Elsewhere on the
continent, a new wave of acceptance is emerging as Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria,
Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, Swaziland and Uganda make advances in regulatory
review and commercial approvals for a variety of biotech crops.

"Even with a long history of regulatory barriers, African farmers continue
to adopt biotech crops because of the value they are realizing from the
stability and productivity of biotech varieties," said Hautea. "As more
countries move forward with regulatory reviews for crops such as bananas,
cowpeas and sorghum, we believe biotech crop plantings will continue to grow
in Africa and elsewhere."

Also in 2016, Brazil increased biotech area of maize, soybean, cotton and
canola by a remarkable 11% - maintaining its ranking as the second largest
producer of biotech crops after the United States. In Brazil, biotech
soybeans account for 32.7 million hectares of the 91.4 million hectares
grown worldwide.

For 2016, ISAAA also reports that there were improvements in the
commercialization and plantings of biotech fruits and vegetables with direct
consumer benefits. These included the commercial approvals of the InnateT
Russet Burbank Gen 2 potatoes that were approved by the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration for sale in the United States and the Simplot Gen 1 White
RussetT brand potatoes that were approved by Health Canada for fresh market
sale in Canada. These biotech potato varieties have lower levels of
asparagine, which reduces the creation of acrylamide during high-heat
cooking. Additionally, the first commercially saleable quantities of ArcticR
Apples were harvested in 2016, stored over the winter and are projected to
be sold in U.S. grocery stores in 2017.

Additional highlights from ISAAA's 2016 report include:

Global area rebounded in 2016 with 185.1 million hectares of biotech crops
versus 179. 7 million hectares 2015, when global area for all crops was
down, and 181.5 million hectares in 2014.

In 2016, 26 countries in total, including 19 developing and 7 industrial
countries, grew biotech crops. Developing countries grew 54% of biotech
crops, compared to 46% for industrial nations.

Eight countries in Asia and the Pacific, including China and India, grew
18.6 million hectare of biotech crops in 2016.

10 countries in Latin America, including Paraguay and Uruguay, grew a
combined 80 million hectares of biotech crops in 2016.

In 2016, the leading countries growing biotech crops continued to be
represented by the United States, Brazil, Argentina, Canada and India.
Combined, these five countries planted 91% of the global biotech crop area.

Four countries in Europe -- Spain, Portugal, Czech Republic Slovakia --
grew more than 136,000 hectares of biotech maize in 2016, an increase of 17%
from 2015, reflecting EU's need for insect resistant maize.

Biotech crops with stacked traits accounted for 41% of global area, second
only to herbicide tolerance at 47%.

Biotech soybean varieties accounted for 50% of global biotech crop area.
Based on global area for individual crops, 78% of soybean, 64% of cotton,
26% of maize and 24% of canola planted in the world were biotech varieties.

Countries with over 90% adoption of biotech soybean are U.S.A, Brazil,
Argentina, Canada, South Africa, and Uruguay; close to or over 90% adoption
of biotech maize are USA, Brazil, Argentina, Canada, South Africa, and
Uruguay; over 90% of biotech cotton are USA, Argentina, India, China,
Pakistan, South Africa, Mexico, Australia, and Myanmar; and with 90% or more
of biotech canola are USA and Canada.



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