Transgenic Crops tested in Field Trials, 1986 to 1995

Source: James, C. and A.F. Krattiger. (1996) Global Review of the Field Testing and Commericializaton of Transgenic Plants, (1986 to 1995: The First Decade of Crop Biotechnology. ISAA Briefs No. 1. ISAAA Ithaca, NY. pp.31
The following table has to be taken with great care. Current data for the USA and Canada, and most European countries are readily available. Equivalent data for Africa , Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean are more difficult to obtain.
Also the various published data bases are not always comparable. For example, a trial (release), can be one crop at one site in one year, or it can be a category of a crop at a number of sites within a country. In industrialized countries the number of sites for any one trial can be large whereas for developing countries, a trial may be conducted at only one or few locations. In the USA, a "release permit", (aquivalent to "trial") is applicable to a particular year for one precisely defined crop wit a known modification and may be tested at more than one site in more than one state. In the table the definition of a field trial is consistent and equivalent to the "release permit" issued in the USA.

Total Number of Transgenic Crop Field Trials in Different Coutries Worldwide
(1986 through 31 December 1995)
List of Transgenic Crops Tested in Field Experiments Worldwide
(1986 through 31 December 1995)
Country Total Number of
Field Trials
Argentina78
Australia46
Belgium 97
Belize 5
Bolivia 6
Bulgaria 3
Canada 486
Chile 39
China 60
Costa Rica17
Cuba 18
Denmark 16
Egypt 2
Finland 10
France*253
Germany 49
Guatemala 3
Hungary 22
Italy 69
Japan 25
Mexico 38
New Zealand 15
Norway 1
Portugal 5
Russia 11
South Africa 22
Spain 30
Sweden 18
Switzerland 2
Thailand 2
The Netherlands 113
United Kingdom 133
United States 1,952
Zimbabwe 1
TOTAL3,647
Large number of field trials
(commercialized or near commercialization; >150 trials)
Medium number of field trials
(commercial dvelopment, 25-150)
Low number of field trials
(experimental; 1-25)
Canola/Rapeseed AlfalfaAmelanchier laevis ; Apple
CottonCantaloupeArabidopis thaliana ; Asparagus
Maize/CornCarnationsBarley; Belladonna; Birch
MelonFlaxCabbage; Carrot; Cauliflower,
PotatoRiceChicory; Chrysanthenum; Clover
SoybeanSquashCranberry; Creeping bent grass
TobaccoSugarbeetCucumber; Eggplant; Eucalyptus;
TomatoSunflowerGerbera; Gladiolus; Grape
Kiwi; Lettuce; Lupins;
Papaya; Pea; Peanut;
Pepper; Petunia; Plum;
Poplar; Raspberry; Serviceberry;
Spruce; Strawberry; Sugarcane; Sunflower;
Sweetpotato; Walnut; Wheat


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