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Welcome to the CropLife International Fast Facts database.

This resource is intended to help you to find out more about the key issues surrounding the work that we as the plant science industry are engaged in. You will find up-to-date facts and figures relating to a variety of topics, including food security, climate change and the market for plant science technology. Each fact is accompanied by its source, date and author, as well as a URL where relevant. You can search by keyword or you can click straight through to a defined category using the list on the right hand side of the page.

Should there be a fact or figure that you are unable to find, or a topic that is not currently included, please let us know by contacting Anna Riley at anna.riley@croplife.org.

Popular Facts

Crop protection practices reduce the overall loss potential of 50% to actual losses of about 29%: 10% to pathogens, 2% to viruses, 8% to animal pests and 9% to weeds (1996-1998 on a regional basis for 17 regions). Dehne HW, Oerke E, Schonbeck F, Weber A (1994). 808pp. Elsevier: Amsterdam.
The top eight countries in 2009, each of which grew more than 1 million hectares, in decreasing order of hectarage were: USA(64.0 million hectares), Brazil (21.4) Argentina (21.3), India (8.4), Canada (8.2), China (3.7), Paraguay (2.2), and South Aafrica (2.1 million hectares). James C (2009). Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops: 2009 The first fourteen years. Brief No. 41: Executive Summary. ISAAA: Ithaca, NY.
A new crop protection product takes 8 to 9 years and in excess of US$200 million to develop (from discovery to first sales). Of this total, as much as 40% is spent on researching environmental fate and impacts. Gisi U, Leadbeater A (2009). The Challenges of Chemical Control of Plant Diseases. Recent Developments in Management of Plant Diseases.
Conservation tillage enabled by low impact weed control products have reduced soil erosion by 50-98%. James C (2006). Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops: 2006. Brief No 35. ISAAA: Ithaca, NY.
Since biotech cotton was introduced in the United States, songbird populations have increased 37% in Mississippi, 34% in Alabama and 10% in Texas. (2008). Stewardship and Sustainable Agriculture: Making it Work . Syngenta.
The Cost of bringing a new Active Ingredient to the Market (EU and USA) The overall costs of discovery and development of a new crop protection product increased by 21.1% from $152 million. (€115million) in 1995, to reach $184 million. (€140million) in 2000. From 2000 to the 2005‐8 period, costs increased by 39.1% to $256 m., equivalent to €189 million at constant exchange rates. McDougall P (2010). Agrochemical Industry Research and Development Expenditure. Consultancy Study for CropLife International.
US Wheat Soil Loss 1987-2007: The indicator of soil loss for wheat made significant progress during the period 1987 through 1997 as soil loss above T decreased from approximately four tons to two tons per acre. Over the twenty year study period, tons per acre decreased 39%. Similarly, soil loss efficiency improved dramatically, roughly 50%, with most improvements over the first half of the study period and more gradual improvements in the second half. (2009). Field to Market: The Keystone Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture . The Keystone Centre.
Crop protection practices reduced the overall potential losses for wheat of 50% to actual losses of about 29%, comprised of 10% to pathogens, 2% to viruses, 8% to animal pests and 8% to weeds (2001-03 on a regional basis for 19 regions). Dehne HW, Oerke EC (2004). Safeguarding Production - Losses in Major Crops and the Role of Crop Protection. CABI Crop Protection Compendium.
Nearly all estimates of future demand for agricultural goods suggest a need to double agricultural production by 2050, if not before. (2006). World agriculture: towards 2030/2050. FAO: Rome.
16% of U.S. agricultural land is irrigated - irrigated land produces 2.5 times more than non-irrigated land. (1998).
Updated global impact assessments for biotech crops indicate that for the period 1996 to 2008 economic gains of US$51.9 billion were generated from two sources, firstly, reduced production costs (50%), and secondly, substantial yield gains (50%) of 167 million tons; the latter would have required 62.6 million additional hectares had biotech crops not been deployed. James C (2009). Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops: 2009 The first fourteen years. Brief No. 41: Executive Summary. ISAAA: Ithaca, NY.

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Welcome to the CropLife International Fast Facts database.

Popular Facts