Fact Sheets

Agricultural Biotechnology: Helping Increase Crop Yields for America's Farmers

Did You Know?

In the United States, agricultural biotechnology, along with better agronomic practices adopted in recent years, has helped increase farmers’ crop yields. As biotechnology is used to develop new and improved crops, yields (i.e. the amount of oilseed, grain, or fiber produced per acre) are expected to continue increasing, allowing farmers to produce more on the same number of acres without cultivating additional land.

Corn

In the United States, where 86 percent of the nation's corn acreage is planted with biotechnology varieties (USDA ERS, 2010), average yields in 2010 were roughly 30 percent higher than the average corn yields prior to 1996—the year biotech varieties were first planted (USDA NASS).

Soybeans

Ninety-three percent of the U.S. soybean acreage is now planted with biotech varieties (USDA ERS, 2010). Soybean yields have increased roughly 20 percent from the average yields in years prior to the introduction of biotech soybeans in 1996 (USDA NASS).

Cotton

Ninety-three percent of U.S. cotton is now genetically engineered (USDA ERS, 2010).  Cotton yields have increased approximately 33 percent (USDA NASS) as compared to the average cotton yields prior to the introduction of biotech cotton in 1996.

 

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