The Government of Burkina Faso has authorised planting of 15,000 hectares of biotech cotton in 2008/09 for planting seed production and to evaluate impacts on cotton yields, quality, rural economies and the environment.

Research conducted in experimental plots by the Institute D'Economie Rural (IER) indicates that the use of Bt cotton in Burkina Faso can lead to a gain in yields of as much as 30pc while reducing pesticide use by 60pc.

According to the International Cotton Advisory Council, if commercial results from the 2008/09 crop confirm the research results, the use of biotech cotton will expand rapidly in Burkina Faso beginning in 2009/10.