Economic, ecological, food safety, and social consequences of the deployment of Bt transgenic plants.
Shelton A M, Zhao J-Z, Roush RT (2002). Annu. Rev. Entomol. 2002. 47:845–81.
This paper is relevant to the Agronomic, Safety & Health Impact, Socio-Economic, and Environmental categories in the following areas:
| Crops: | Maize, Cotton, Potato, and Rice |
| Traits: | Insect Resistance, Herbicide Tolerance, and Insect Res. (BT) |
| Countries: | China, and US |
| Regions: | North America, and Asia |
| ImpactAreas: | Agronomic, Safety & Health, Socio-Economic, and Environmental |
Abstract or Summary:
Transgenic plants expressing insecticidal proteins from the bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), are revolutionizing agriculture. Bt, which had limited use as a foliar insecticide, has become a major insecticide because genes that produce Bt toxins have been engineered into major crops grown on 11.4 million ha worldwide in 2000.
Based on the data collected to date, generally these crops have shown positive economic benefits to growers and reduced the use of other insecticides. The potential ecological and human health consequences of Bt plants, including effects on nontarget organisms, food safety, and the development of resistant insect populations, are being compared for Bt plants and alternative insect management strategies.
Scientists do not have full knowledge of the risks and benefits of any insect management strategies. Bt plants were deployed with the expectation that the risks would be lower than current or alternative technologies and that the benefits would be greater. Based on the data to date, these expectations seem valid..
Paper reproduced by permission of Cornell University
CropLife International fully acknowledges the source and authors of the publication as detailed above.
Related Papers
- Diversity and abundance of flower-visiting insects in Bt and non-Bt cotton fields of Maputaland (KwaZulu Natal Province, South Africa)Hofs J-L, SchoemanaAS, Pierrea J2008
- Feeding, oviposition and survival of Liriomyza trifolii (Diptera: Agromyzidae) on Bt and non-Bt cottonsLei z, Liu TX Greenberg SM2009
- Decomposition dynamics and structural plant components of genetically modified Bt maize leaves do not differ from conventional hybrids. Zurbrügg C, Höhnemann L, Meissle M, Romeis J, Nentwig W2010
- Genetically Engineered Plants and Foods: A Scientist’s Analysis of the Issues (Part II)Lemaux PG2009
- Economic Impact of Transgenic Crops in Developing CountriesRaney, T.2006
