China’s January 2023 approval gave Brazilian sugarcane company CTC a reason to expect faster adoption of its genetically modified (GM) varieties—but it was an import approval for processing, not permission to grow the crop in China. At the time, Reuters reported that about 70,000 hectares of Brazilian sugarcane were GM in the 2022/23 season. That historical figure does not show how much was planted in later seasons or whether China’s decision caused acreage to rise.
What did China approve?
On January 13, 2023, China issued biosafety certificates covering two genetically engineered sugarcane events for import as processing materials, according to the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service’s report on the approval. USDA described this as China’s first approval of GM sugarcane for import. Reuters identified the varieties as CTC20Bt and CTC9001Bt and reported that they resist stem-boring insects, including the sugarcane borer.
The decision concerned importing the crop for processing. It was not approval to cultivate GM sugarcane in China. Nor do the available reports establish that China subsequently received shipments or sold sugar made from these varieties.
Why CTC expected Brazilian adoption to accelerate
CTC, Brazil’s Centro de Tecnologia Canavieira, said China’s recognition of the varieties’ safety in an important market would help accelerate their adoption in Brazil. Reuters reported that forecast on January 17, 2023. For a company marketing a GM crop, acceptance by a major potential destination market can reduce one commercial uncertainty around processing and trade. That is a plausible reason for CTC’s optimism, but the announcement itself is not evidence that adoption accelerated.
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- 200 sugarcane seeds: Seed material for a tropical cane-growing project, rather than ready-grown stalks.
- Cane grass character: Sugarcane develops leafy stems and brings a tall, grass-like shape to warm gardens.
- Warm-climate setting: Plan a sunny growing area with a long warm season and room for developing canes.
- Moisture and nutrition: Use fertile soil with drainage and maintain water as plants grow.
- Propagation expectations: Seed-grown sugarcane may differ from the parent plant; a named cane type or sugar yield is not promised.
Brazil had already approved CTC’s first Bt sugarcane variety for commercial use. In 2017, the country’s National Biosafety Technical Commission, CTNBio, granted commercial-use approval for CTC 20 BT. CTC says the variety is resistant to damage caused by Diatraea saccharalis, the sugarcane borer. Brazil’s cultivation approval and China’s later import certificates were separate decisions by different regulators, covering different uses.
How much GM sugarcane was planted in Brazil?
Reuters reported that CTC put Brazil’s GM sugarcane area at about 70,000 hectares in the 2022/23 season, nearly double the previous area. The same January 2023 account put Brazil’s total sugarcane fields at about 8.3 million hectares. Those figures indicate that GM sugarcane remained a small part of the country’s crop at the time; they are not a current acreage estimate.
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- Growth Characteristics: Tall perennial grass reaching 8-12 feet at maturity; Fast-growing tropical plant ideal for creating privacy screens; Produces sturdy stalks with high sugar content within 9-12 months
- Versatile Uses: Fresh stalks provide natural sweetener for beverages and cooking; Excellent for creating tropical landscape effects and garden interest; Chewing stems offers traditional sweet treat directly from the garden
- Product Quantity: Pack contains 150+ premium sugarcane seeds; Provides ample supply for establishing a substantial planting area; Ensures successful germination with carefully selected viable seeds
- CULTIVATION REQUIREMENTS: Thrives in warm climates within USDA zones 9-11; Prefers full sun exposure and consistently moist soil; Well-draining loamy soil produces the best yields
- POLLINATION QUALITY: Open-pollinated variety ensures genetic diversity; Seeds produce plants true to parent characteristics; Allows for seed saving and propagation in subsequent seasons
CTC regulatory and government affairs director Silvia Yokoyama told Reuters that the planted area had increased significantly, but only a small fraction had been processed. Reuters said the fraction processed in Brazil had gone to domestic ethanol production. That describes Brazilian use, not exports to China.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the approval does—and does not—tell growers and investors
It marked potential market access, not demonstrated sales
China’s certificates were a regulatory signal relevant to processing and trade. CTC’s statement that approval would accelerate adoption was a company forecast. The available reporting does not establish actual China-bound shipments, sales of sugar derived from the varieties, or a measured increase in Brazilian GM acreage caused by the approval.
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- SET OF 3SUGARCANE PLANTS: Includes four live sugarcane starter plants, each measuring approximately 5 to 7 inches tall and ready to grow.
- EXCEPTIONALLY SWEET VARIETY: These sugarcane plants are known for producing very sweet cane, making them a rewarding addition to any home garden.
- EASY TO GROW: Beginner-friendly plants that require minimal effort to plant and maintain, making them suitable for gardeners of all experience levels.
- LIVE STARTER PLANTS: Each plant arrives as a rooted cutting with visible green shoots, giving you a healthy head start on your growing journey.
- VERSATILE PLANTING OPTIONS: Can be transplanted into larger pots or directly into the ground, thriving in warm, sunny conditions with regular watering.
The acreage figure and later market-share figures measure different things
USDA’s 2026 Brazil Sugar Annual reported that CTC varieties had a 31 percent planting market share, calculated on the current base of CTC’s contracted clients. This is not a GM sugarcane share: it covers CTC varieties overall and uses a contracted-client denominator. It should not be compared directly with Reuters’ 70,000-hectare estimate for GM sugarcane in Brazil in 2022/23.
A newer GM event was still described as a forecast for market entry
CTC announced that CTNBio had approved the first event in its VerdPRO2 next-generation GM sugarcane platform. The company says VerdPRO2 combines sugarcane-borer resistance with herbicide tolerance and projected market arrival in the 2026/27 crop year, after remaining legal steps. CTC described an introduction involving nearby customers, trials, and technical follow-up. That timing is the company’s projection, not confirmation that the product was already commercially available.
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- Organic Healthy plants
- 4 germinated plants
- Green Sugar Canes
- Yellowish Green Sugarcane
- These Sugarcane have roots and are ready to be planted
CTC’s business model centers on licensing proprietary technologies to clients and sharing the resulting benefits. The commercial route is therefore agricultural licensing and customer engagement, not a general consumer purchase of planting stock.
Quick Recap
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- Sugarcane, or sugar cane, are several species of tall perennial true grasses of the genus Saccharum
- Grows 10 to 22 tall, Produces large sized canes of golden to amber yellow, fleshy sweet-tasting fruits.
- It is a fast-growing, very heavy bearing variety that will produce very tall canes, Container, Hedge, Mass Planting, Privacy Planting
- Native to the warm temperate to tropical regions of South and Southeast Asia, Polynesia and Melanesia, and used for sugar production.
- It grows well in containers.AnnuaL
Key dates and figures
| Milestone or figure | What it refers to |
|---|---|
| 2017 | CTNBio commercial-use approval in Brazil for CTC 20 BT, CTC’s first Bt sugarcane variety. |
| January 13, 2023 | China issued certificates for two GE sugarcane events as imports for processing, according to USDA FAS. |
| About 70,000 hectares | CTC’s GM sugarcane area estimate for Brazil’s 2022/23 season, reported by Reuters in January 2023; not a current figure. |
| About 8.3 million hectares | Total Brazilian sugarcane fields reported by Reuters in January 2023, providing context for the GM area estimate. |
| 2026/27 crop year | CTC’s projected market-arrival timing for VerdPRO2 after remaining legal steps. |
| 31 percent | CTC varieties’ planting share among its contracted-client base, as reported by USDA FAS in 2026; not GM sugarcane’s share of Brazilian acreage. |
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