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Argentina
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Monsanto’s Bt cotton approved in 2001. It is sown on around 13% of the total area planted to cotton in 2005/06 (approximately 40,000ha out of 309,000ha).
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Australia
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Bt cotton introduced in 1996. Reports are mixed. Initially pesticide use declines dramatically then increases year after year. Farmers do not see economic benefits, due to high cost of technology fee ($225/ha). By 2002/2003, 30% of total cotton crop is Bt cotton and this increases to 80% in 2004 with the release of Monsanto 's Bollgard II variety, which involves less stringent insect resistance management plans and is introduced, for the time being, at the same price as the old variety.
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Brazil
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In March 2005, following the adoption of a new biosafety law strengthening its powers, the pro-GM National Technical Biosafety Committee approves limited experimental field trials of Monsanto’s Bt cotton. However, Bt cotton seeds are sold in neighbouring Argentina and Paraguay, and illegal cultivation is widespread in Brazil. Monsanto claims that 5% of the 1.3 million tons of cotton produced in Brazil for the 2005/2006 season are "black market" varieties of its Bt cotton and the company says that it is partnering with Brazil's roughly 200 gins to establish a scheme to test farmers' cotton for its patented genes and collect royalties.
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Burkina Faso
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In 2003, Monsanto, Syngenta and Burkina Faso’s Institut National de l'Environnement et la recherché Agronomique (INERA) begin field tests of two Bt cotton varieties without the involvement or consent of the national biosafety committee which is tasked with developing a national regulatory regime for GMOs. In October 2006, local media report that the government will approve the commercial release of Bt cotton in 2007.
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China
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Bt cotton released in 1997. Currently Bt cotton is planted on over half of the national cotton area. Bt cotton seed costs around 50-60% more than regular seed, but there is a high level of unauthorised use. Reports are that initial decreases in pesticide use are now completely offset by pesticide use against pests that were formerly of secondary importance. ISAAA claims that the area planted to Bt cotton in 2006 was 3.5 million hectares
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Colombia
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Monsanto imports Bt cotton in 2002, without an environmental clearance. Popular legal action results in the suspension of the authorisation.
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Costa Rica
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Monsanto began field trials without regulatory oversight in 1992. In 2004, 638 ha of Bt cotton were planted, mainly for the export of seeds.
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Egypt
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Monsanto and Egypt’s Agriculture Genetic Engineering Research Institute currently collaborating in field trials of Bt cotton. They claim commercial introduction could take place as early as 2006.
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Guatemala
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Monsanto and Algodones Mayas S.A. have conducted a field trial of GM cotton tolerant to glufosinate (not a Bt cotton) and Monsanto is pursuing field trials of GM cotton with another local seed company, Semillas S.A.
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India
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In 1998 Monsanto 's first field trials of Bt cotton disrupted by farmer protests. Commercial introduction of Bt cotton occurs in 2002, although sales of an unapproved Bt variety began as far back as 1998. In 2005, Bt cotton hybrids planted on over 500,000 ha despite widespread reports of Bt cotton crop failures. In May 2005, the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee rejects Monsanto 's application to renew its temporary authorisation for the sale of its three Bt cotton varieties in Andhra Pradesh. In 2006-2007 season, Monsanto begins sales of Bollgard II cotton in the central zone of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra at nearly twice the seed price. ISAAA claims that area planted to Bt cotton in 2006 was 3.5 million ha.
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Indonesia
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Monsanto’s Bt cotton commercialised in South Sulawesi province in 2001. However, two years later it is withdrawn after its failure to perform triggers farmer protests. Due to poor harvests, some 70% of the 4,438 farmers growing Bt cotton were unable to repay their credit after the first year of planting.
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Kenya
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Monsanto imports Bt cotton into Kenya in 2004 for field trials. The field trials begin in early 2006 at the Kenyan Agricultural Research Institute's research station in Mwea, Central Kenya.
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Mexico
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Bt cotton introduced in 1996. Government subsidises purchase of Bt cotton seeds. In 2002/3, 25% of the national cotton area planted to Bt cotton, slightly less than the percentage in 2000.
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Pakistan
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In May 2005, the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission provides 40,000.00 Kg of Bt cotton seed (varieties IR-FH-901, IR-NIBGE-2, IR-CIM-448 and IR-CIM-443) to farmers in the Punjab to grow on over 8,000 acres of land during the 2005-06 season.
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Paraguay
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In July 2005, The Minister of Agriculture announces that it will approve Monsanto's GM cotton as part of a joint project with the company.
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Philippines
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In January 2005, the Cotton Development Authority signs a memorandum of agreement with the Philippine Rice Research Institute to begin field trials of Bt cotton. In 2007, import of Bt cotton seeds authorised for field trials.
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Senegal
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National cotton company (SODEFITEX) and Monsanto undertake field trials in the Senegal River Valley without notifying regulatory agencies or informing the local population. SODEFITEX backs away from project after early results show no reduction in pesticide use.
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South Africa
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Bt cotton approved for commercial planting in 1997. Adoption very rapid and by 2002/3, an estimated 75% of national cotton area planted to GM cotton.. In 2003/4 only 35,700ha of cotton was planted, an 80% reduction since 2000, ascribed to low world prices and droughts. In 2004/5 the area planted was 21,700 ha, an extraordinary 40% drop in area planted to cotton in one year. It is estimated that 60% of GM cotton is Bt cotton and 30% RR cotton. Small-scale farmers. 90% of whom adopted Bt cotton, are in debt with the total debt amongst small-scale cotton farmers in Northern KwaZulu Natal estimated at over US$ 3 million in 2004.
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Thailand
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Monsanto imports Bt cotton seeds in 1995 and begins field-testing in 1997. In 1999, farmer 's groups monitoring plantings of cotton find samples taken from locations outside Monsanto 's approved sites testing positive for the presence of the Bt gene. It is estimated that 8,000 hectares of Bt cotton are being grown illegally. An alliance of 35 farmer groups and NGOs threaten to stage a mass rally unless the government responds to their calls for a stop to the testing and commercial release of genetically engineered crops. The government reacts by setting up such a ban and terminating field trials of Monsanto 's Bt cotton.
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USA
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Around 40% of the cotton area in the US is Bt cotton. Studies show reduction in pesticide use since Bt cotton introduced in 1996, but now secondary pests are becoming an increasing problem.
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Vietnam
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Although IPM techniques have dramatically reduced the use of pesticides on cotton in Vietnam over the last two decades, Vietnam Cotton Company is pursuing Bt cotton in partnership with the Chinese company Biocentury in an effort to expand dry-season irrigated cotton production. Field trials of Bt cotton have taken place.
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Zimbabwe
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Monsanto planted a Bt cotton crop in 1998 without official permission. Crop was burnt before flowering when uncovered by authorities.
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