The International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) estimates that biotech cotton was planted on 44% of world area in 2007/08, accounting 51% of production and 48% of cotton traded internationally. The countries that have officially approved commercialproduction of biotech cotton are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China (Mainland), Colombia, India, Indonesia, Mexico, South Africa and the US A. Indonesia planted biotech cotton for a few years in the 1990's, but it is not allowed any more. Many countries are experimenting with biotech cotton, particularly varieties resistant to lepidopteron insects, but Burkina Faso is the next country to commercialize biotech cotton. Burkina Faso will be planting Bollgard cotton commercially in 2008/09. In Africa, Egypt, Kenya, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe have conducted confined trials of biotech cotton but they are years away from approval. Uganda is ready to undertake confined trials in 2008/09. The National Biosafety Committee in Uganda has approved two sites, and planting will be done in May and July 2008 on the Serere and the Kasese sites, respectively.
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