Field Evidence: Bt Corn and Mycotoxin Reduction (2008)

This paper is relevant to the Safety & Health Impact categories in the following areas:

Abstract or Summary:

Bt corn is being planted at an ever-growing rate around the world. Aside from its primary benefit of insect pest protection, it has the important secondary benefit of reducing mycotoxin concentrations, because of the relationship between insect pest damage and fungal colonization. The currently-available varieties of Bt corn have shown strong evidence in field conditions worldwide of having significantly lower fumonisin levels than non-Bt isolines. There is also limited evidence for lower levels of DON and zearalenone in Bt corn, although there are fewer field studies on these relationships. The more extensive work on aflatoxin reduction in Bt corn has yielded mixed results, but new varieties of Bt corn that may be commercialized soon are likely to have a more significant impact on aflatoxin levels. Hence, Bt corn is an important potential tool for mycotoxin control, both in the US and in other nations.

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