Facts & Figures
A growing body of evidence suggests that biotechnology is helping agriculture enter a new era of efficiency and sustainability. In the hands of farmers, better seeds are helping the world grow more, while using less. Researchers around the world, in both the public and private sectors, are working to improve seeds through the use of advanced breeding and biotechnology. Together with better farming techniques, these advanced seeds can help farmers meet the world's demand for food, clothing and fuel while also helping to reducing the need for water, land, pesticides and fossil fuels. In this month's Spotlight, we'll highlight the findings of a new report on the status of biotech crops, and discuss their role in meeting our growing global challenges.
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Canada
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| Population in thousands (2010) | 33,890 |
| Average life expectancy (2008) | 81 |
| GDP per capita (2008) | $40,372.40 |
| Gross GPD in billions (2008) | $1,343.42 |
| Agriculture's share of GDP (2003) | 2.1% |
Canada
Canada is located in the northern portion of North America and has a population of nearly 34 million (2010). Agriculture employs 2 percent of the country’s population (2006) and accounts for 2.1 percent of the country’s GDP (2003). Canada’s major agricultural products include wheat, barley, tobacco, and various fruits and vegetables. Canada is one of the six founder biotech crop countries, having adopted biotech canola in 1996, the first year of commercialization of biotech crops. In addition to canola, Canadian farmers grow biotech corn, soybeans and sugar beets. Since adoption, farm income gains from biotech crops have been $2 billion. To learn more about Canada’s agriculture production and the role it plays in feeding, clothing and fueling the world, see the charts below.
