AgbioInvestor’s free-to-access service GM Monitor has shown that the global GM crop area, including government supplied and farmer saved seed, rose by 1.9% to reach 209.8 million hectares in the 2024 agricultural year. To download the full 2024 GM Crop Area Review, all crop area data going back to 1996 and regulatory trait approvals, please visit the downloads section of GM Monitor.com.

At the regional level, growth was driven by South America (+3.5%), followed by North America (+1.1%) and Europe (+37.2%). While the growth rate in Europe is significant, growth in volume terms was only 179,000 hectares. Growth in these regions were more than enough to offset smaller areas in Asia (-1.8%) and the rest of world (-0.4%).

In 2024, the USA remained the leading country in terms of GM area, with 75.4 million hectares (+1.3%) cultivated in 2024. Brazil, the second-largest GM area, experienced growth of 1.4% to reach 67.9 million hectares.

Changes in GM Crop Area 2024*

At the crop level, area growth in 2024 was led by soybean (+4.7%), cotton (+2.2%), and canola (+1.0%). While some of the minor crops experienced greater rates of growth, growth in volume terms was low. GM soybean, the world’s most cultivated GM crop, experienced area growth that was driven by larger areas in Brazil and the USA. The world’s GM maize area declined 2.5% in 2024, primarily though smaller areas in the USA and Brazil.

All GM crop area data as well as monthly updates for GM trait regulatory approvals are available on GM Monitor.com.