Commercialization of Transgenic Crops
The data on commercialization of transgenic crops is summarized. It can be seen that approvals have been granted to commercially grow 8 transgenic food/fibre crops and one flower crop (carnation), with 8 different traits in 15 countries and the EU. There are other cases of approvals for limited use and still others that were pending approval in the year 2002. During 1996-2001, transgenic crops were grown commercially in 15 countries (10 industrialized and 5 developing countries). In the year 2000, the four major countries that accounted for 95% of the area included USA (68%), Argentina (23%), Canada (7%) and China (1%).

In 1994/95, another transgenic tobacco carrying resistance against both CMV and TMV was grown for seed increase. The area under this transgenic tobacco, became 70% by the turn of the 20th century. This has led to saving on insecticides (2-3 applications now instead of 7 applications earlier) and yield increases of 5-7%. Virus resistant transgenic tomatoes are also grown in China since 1994, but detailed data are not available. The first approval (May 1994) for commercial sale of a food product from a transgenic crop was granted in USA, when Flavr SavrTM was sold in the market in May 1994. In two years (May 1994 to mid 1996) 20 products from transgenic crops were deregulated, which involved only 7 crop species (tomato, cotton, soybean, maize, rapeseed, potato, squash), the 8th species being a flower crop (carnation).