BT CORN Neil Wood Stephen Bradshaw Jacob Lundstrom

BT CORN Neil Wood Stephen Bradshaw Jacob Lundstrom Michelle Reid

WHAT IS BT CORN? � Genetically Modified Organism � Organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering. � Bt- Bacillus thuringiensis � Naturally occurring bacterium in soil � Bt gene produces protein Bt Delta Endotoxin

BT DELTA ENDOTOXIN �A pore forming toxin that produces crystals � When ingested the toxin binds to gut wall of larvae causing the insect to stop feeding. � Within hours gut wall breaks down and bacteria invades body cavity. � Larva of European corn borer

HISTORY � 1901 - Japanese biologist Shigetane Ishiwatari isolated bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis cause of Sotto Disease � 1920 - Bt began being used as a pesticide � 1938 - France commercialized spore based formulation called sporine.

1958 - Bt became a commercially used pesticide 1961 - Bt became EPA registered 1980’s- Bt pesticides increased when insects became increasingly resistant to synthetic insecticides. 1995 - First Bt Corn Commercialized

FIRST BT CORN � First Bt corn was commercialized � Cry 1 Ab � Produced by: Syngenta and Dow Agrosciences

There about 30 million hectares of Bt Corn planted in the U. S.

BT CORN ADOPTION � Bt Corn � 1996 -2009 � 55 million acres � 63% of corn cropland � Est. 70% currently

COMMUNITY SOCIETAL GROUPS AND HUMAN HEALTH Positives � Decrease 35% pesticide use � Decreased � Adjacent � Up inputs adjacent farm affect 23 -73% farms reduction in pests to 40% increase in production � Increased nutrition

COMMUNITY SOCIETAL GROUPS AND HUMAN HEALTH Positives � Increase quality, Bt/Non-Bt Corn � Increased � Non-toxic � Not nutrients, reduced area pests to humans compatible with human genome � Target � Only effectiveness direct effect on select pests

COMMUNITY SOCIETAL GROUPS AND HUMAN HEALTH Negatives � Long term effects � Local � Regional � Large-scale � Survivors � Resistance � Linked Non-Target Species

ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS � Bt corn has dramatically reduced the amounts of pesticides used by farmers. � Fewer beneficial insects are killed.

NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS � Pests can evolve resistance to toxins in Bt crops in as few as 2 years under the worst circumstances

A properly implemented refuge strategy can slow the rate of resistance evolution but does not prevent it. A higher does exposure to toxin interspersed with planting refuges are used to minimize the spread of resistance in population

BT CROP RESISTANT SPECIES

BT CORN SUSTAINABILITY � Environmentally � Economically � Socially

ENVIRONMENTAL � Benefits � Uses less pesticides � Water quality � Targets insects pests that feed on plant � 40% of pests are invasive � Natural � Bacterium found in soil

ENVIRONMENTAL � Costs � Genetic Pollution � Resistance

ECONOMIC � Benefits � Lower production cost � Higher yields � Costs � Higher seed costs

SOCIAL � Benefits � Less chemical exposure � Less pest issue in adjacent fields non-Bt � Safe for humans, livestock, and fish � Costs � The unknown affect of human health

FUTURE OF BT CORN � New technology will need to be used � Only a tool for insect control � 40% adoption rate by 2005 � 63% of Corn crop by 2009 � 72% Corn crop by 2014 � Insect resistance