Thirty years ago, Bayer (Monsanto at the time) introduced Bollgard and revolutionized cotton production in the United States, giving farmers a reliable cotton trait with effective insect control that they still trust today.
Introduced to the market in 1996, Bollgard gave growers an effective solution to caterpillar pests such as tobacco budworm and pink bollworm. Since then, Bollgard technology has helped reduce insecticide costs and usage, lower production costs, and strengthen the long-term stability of cotton production.
“Thirty years ago, Bollgard, the first commercial Bt trait focused on insect protection, changed the history of cotton farming. Over the past three decades, thousands of farmers have trusted Bollgard cotton traits through each new innovation and iteration,” said Shea Murdock, Bayer Global and Regional Crop Team Lead. “As new challenges arose, Bayer worked hand-in-hand with growers to improve the original trait technology to meet the demands of a changing landscape. With even more future investment and innovation on the horizon, we remain focused on bringing greater protection and flexibility to cotton growers across generations.”
The first commercial plantings of Bollgard in 1996 covered approximately 1.8 million U.S. cotton acres, representing about 12% of U.S. cotton acreage in its launch year1. By 2018, Bt cotton traits were planted on approximately 85% of U.S. cotton acres, illustrating how Bayer’s innovation became the industry standard.
Since its initial introduction, Bollgard has evolved to meet the needs of cotton growers:
- 1996: Bollgard commercial launch.
- 2005: Bollgard II® introduced, with two Bt proteins for broader caterpillar control.
- 2017: Bollgard® 3 launched with three Bt proteins, alongside XtendFlex® technology, giving farmers greater flexibility with weed control.
- 2023: Bollgard® 3 ThryvOn® cotton commercially introduced, expanding protection beyond caterpillar pests to include thrips and tarnished plant bugs.
- 2029: The next generation of Bollgard, Bollgard® 4 HT4 with ThryvOn® Technology, is planned to be introduced.
As Bayer continues investing in the future of cotton through advanced traits, new tools and improved germplasm, the company remains committed to delivering innovations that not only help growers protect yields but also sustain cotton farming for generations to come.
Additionally, Bayer is capturing grower stories through a video series commemorating the 30th anniversary of Bollgard. Learn more about Bollgard, and hear directly from the farmers and researchers who helped to change the history of cotton farming: cropscience.bayer.us/traits/cotton/bollgard-30th-anniversary.
Information supplied by Bayer CropScience.
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