Glyphosate-resistant crops: adoption, use and future considerations

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Biotechnology
• Agronomy

Background:

• Glyphosate-resistant crops (GRCs) were introduced in 1996, experiencing rapid adoption in soybeans and cotton, with significant growth in maize.
• GRCs now cover over 74 million hectares across five crop species in 13 countries worldwide.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an updated global overview of hectares planted with GRCs.
• To analyze current herbicide and tillage use patterns in GRC production.
• To discuss potential future applications of GRC technology.

Main Methods:

• Data compilation on global GRC hectares planted.
• Analysis of herbicide and tillage practices in major GRC-producing countries.
• Review of current trends and future prospects for GRCs.

Main Results:

• Soybeans (54.2M ha), maize (13.2M ha), and cotton (5.1M ha) represent the largest GRC areas globally.
• Significant use of alternative herbicides in GR maize (50%) and cotton (70%), and some tillage in GR crop production (50-70%).
• USA, Argentina, Brazil, and Canada are the leading countries in GRC adoption.

Conclusions:

• GRCs are a highly adopted weed management technology, expected to remain popular.
• Future GRC use will likely involve complementary herbicides and stacked biotechnology traits.
• Integrated weed management strategies are evolving with GRC adoption.