This excellent, informative publication on the global status of commercialized biotech/GM crops in 2007 presents data and information from a wide front that serve to facilitate a knowledge-based discussion of current trends. An increase of 12% of biotech crops between 2006 and 2007 to 114.3 million hectares is impressive, as is the increasing activity on a wide range of useful genetic traits and crops, including rice, to add to the established GM varieties of soyabean, maize, cotton and canola. The USA continues to dominate in area and range of crops, followed by Argentina, Brazil, Canada, India and China. Some readers may be surprised to note an increasing area of GM maize in several EU countries. The huge investment by China into the research and development of biotech crops is a reflection of its intention to be one of the world leaders in biotechnology. One telling statistic is the increase globally to 12 million small and resource-poor farmers who grow biotech crops. Of 23 countries, 12 are ‘developing’ and 11 ‘industrial’.

In addition to information from many different countries there are appendices covering Selected Events in India in 2007; Global Status of Regulatory Approvals; and Useful Tables and Charts on International Seed Trade. A separate Executive Summary highlights key information and focuses on India, China, Argentina, Brazil and South Africa (the only African country to commercialize biotech crops), as well as on goals to aim for globally to help meet the Millennium Development Goals by 2015. This publication deserves a wide readership.