An article in _Science News Online_ V155(21) May 22 1999
notes that "Eating pollen from corn plants genetically
engineered to make their own pesticide can kill larvae of
monarch butterflies, according to a Cornell University study"
Any insights about this aspect of genetically engineered
plants?
Anne
----- Original Message -----
From: John Foster <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Wednesday, July 30, 2003 11:53 am
Subject: Re: Genetic Engineering
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "STEVEN BISSELL" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Wednesday, July 30, 2003 7:09 AM
> Subject: Re: Genetic Engineering
>
>
> > John wrote, "Ironically, though, it has been exposed that
GM crops
> increase
> > pesticide
> > use."
> >
> > Steven here; I think that 'proof' is entirely antecdotal. At
> least from
> the
> > reports I've read on GM soybeans, (an ecological disaster
even if
> it's not
> > GM) is that herbicide use goes way down and other
pesticides are
> also> reduced.
> >
> > Steven
>
> I have the references in earlier posts which prove
scientifically
> that GM do
> not decrease pesticide useage.
>
> And,
>
> Interesting you mentioned soybeans. Roundup ready
soybeans require
> moreherbicide than regular soybeans because a pre-
emergent is not
> used. The
> problem with the pre-emergent is that there are 'residual
effects'
> of the
> herbicide in the soil, and also that some weeds have
developed
> resistance to
> the Roundup. The solution then was to develop a crop
genetically
> that would
> be resistant to very high concentrations of Roundup, thus
removing
> moreweeds. Of course eventually some weeds will develop
higher
> resistance to
> Roundup and then the GM crop will be useless. GM crops
are like
> 'artifacts'really.
>
> Organic soybeans however are relatively easy to grow
because
> soybean is a
> legume, fixes nitrogen in the soil. Thus it can be grown like
> clover. With
> green manuring in the fall with a crop of rye grass or
something
> like that
> it is relatively easy to grow organic soybeans, and organic
> soybeans are not
> expensive. Most tofu on the market is made from organic
soybean.
>
> However if the land owner simply rents out the land and is
only
> interestedin money, then chances are that it will be used to
grow
> GM crops, because
> this type of farming requires less labour and less thought.
>
> The Bt corn does not reduce pesticide use. That was
determined
> recently by
> the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture).
>
>
>
>
>
> >
> >
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