Pests Winning?

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have been developed to increase crop yields and resist pests, however, some of these crops are now losing their resistance to certain pests. This is due to the rapid evolution of pests and their ability to adapt to new environments. For example, cotton crops that have been genetically modified to produce a toxin that kills bollworm, a major pest in cotton production, are now being damaged by bollworms that have developed resistance to the toxin. This has led to a decrease in crop yields and an increase in the use of pesticides to control the pests.

The development of resistance in pests is a common phenomenon in agriculture and can occur due to several factors, including the overuse of pesticides and the lack of crop rotation. In the case of GMO crops, the widespread planting of crops with the same genetic modifications has created a large population of pests that are resistant to the toxin. As a result, farmers are now faced with the challenge of controlling pests and maintaining crop yields, which has led to increased use of chemical pesticides and the development of new GMOs with different genetic modifications to overcome the resistance. The issue of pest resistance highlights the need for integrated pest management (IPM) strategies that incorporate a range of methods, including crop rotation, biological controls, and the use of pesticides, to maintain crop productivity and reduce the risk of resistance in pests.

Independent researchers are now pressuring the Environmental Protection Agency to set a cap on how much land farmers may use for GMO crops. The scientists contended that if these crops were widely planted, it would lead to a situation in which, if a few unusual insects happened to have the genetic ability to survive toxic proteins, they would be the only survivors, swiftly breed with one another, and form a new race of resistant insects. In biology, this is referred to as "selection pressure."

They suggested mandating that farmers plant non-GMO crops on a portion of their land as the solution. This would increase the number of non-resistant insects and decrease the likelihood that the few resistant insects would mate.

For more information, check out, As Biotech Crops Lose Their Power, Scientists Push For New Restrictions