AgbioInvestor’s free-to-access service AgbioInvestor GM Monitor has identified the following GM trait approvals up to August 2025. Expanded details on these recently approved traits, as well as for approvals dating back as far as 1992, can be found on AgbioInvestor’s GM Monitor website.

The genetically modified cotton COT102 x GHB119 x GHB614 x T304-40 developed by Bayer has been granted cultivation approval in Colombia. This trait stack was achieved through cross-hybridisation and selection involving transgenic donors. The stack possesses a number of traits that provide insect resistance (COT102, GHB119 and T304-40) and herbicide tolerance (GHB614). The trait stack is also referred to by its brand name, GlyTol LibertyLink TwinLink Plus. GlyTol LibertyLink TwinLink Plus has received cultivation approval in Australia (2016), Brazil (2017), Paraguay and Argentina (2019), and Colombia and Uruguay (2025).

Cotton was one of the first GM crops to be granted cultivation approval, receiving it in the USA in 1994, and these recent approvals show that, while cotton is considered the first crop to utilise GM technology commercially, new country markets for GM cotton are still emerging. Crop markets such as the USA, India, Australia and China are considered mature, with GM adoption rates of over 95%. Other markets are still adopting GM cotton, principally Africa. However, Uruguay has recently been active in authorising GM cotton traits for cultivation. In the past year, the country has granted 14 cultivation approvals for predominantly stacked cotton traits, signifying the country’s intention to begin cultivating GM cotton. At present, Uruguay only commercially cultivates GM soybean and maize.

GM cotton was cultivated on 24.2 million hectares in 2024, approximately 80% of the total cotton area. In terms of value, Asia is the largest regional GM cotton seed market, followed by North America, South America, ROW and Europe. The USA, India and Brazil are the three most valuable GM cotton seed markets.