WATCH: Genetic engineering: The world's greatest scam?

Uploaded on Sep 11, 2009

(French version -- http://www.greenpeace.org/ogm)
Genetic engineering is a threat to food security, especially in a changing climate. The introduction of genetically manipulated organisms by choice or by accident grossly undermines sustainable agriculture and in so doing, severely limits the choice of food we can eat.

Once GE plants are released into the environment, they are out of control. If anything goes wrong - they are impossible to recall.

GE contamination threatens biodiversity respected as the global heritage of humankind, and one of our world's fundamental keys to survival.

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SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1H9WZGKQeYg

Insect Resistance to GMO Corn and Cotton Bt Crops with Insect Protection

Home / Newsroom / Viewpoints / Monsanto Company / Insect Resistance to GMO Corn and Cotton Bt Crops with Insect Protection

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a naturally occurring soil bacterium that we use in some of our corn and cotton seed products to provide protection from damaging insects. While all of our Bt crops continue to be highly effective tools for farmers, our research team constantly reviews and monitors individual fields for resistance. We have expanded programs to monitor corn rootworms in the United States (2011 – Ongoing) and pink bollworms in cotton in India (2009 – Ongoing).
Since the advent of farming, people have searched for ways to save their crops from insect pests. Even ancient farmers were known to have collected seeds from high-yielding plants in the hope of producing crops the next year that could withstand insect infestation.
Bt, or Bacillus thuringiensis, is a modern solution to insect control.

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a bacterium that occurs naturally in the soil and produces proteins that kill certain insects. Through biotechnology, scientists can use these naturally occurring Bt proteins to develop insect-protected crops that help farmers protect against insect damage and destruction. When targeted insects eat the plant containing the protein, they ultimately die; but Bt is not harmful to humans, other mammals, birds, fish or beneficial insects.

Insect resistance to Bt proteins is natural and expected.
In any insect population, a small number of insects already exist that are tolerant of – or resistant to – certain Bt proteins. Over time, and especially with particular farming practices, it is possible that too many insects in a field could develop a tolerance to a Bt protein and cause significant damage or destruction.

Farmers can help prevent insect resistance through Insect Resistance Management (IRM) practices.
Farmers who choose to grow a Bt crop must plant a “refuge” – a block or strip of the same crop that does not contain a Bt trait, or the non-Bt refuge seed can be included in an EPA-approved seed blend product, which we refer to as “Refuge in the Bag” or RIB. The insects from the refuge are not exposed to the Bt protein and susceptible insects will survive, potentially mating with resistant insects from the neighboring field. This practice is known as Insect Resistance Management.

There are two instances where Monsanto entomologists have expanded their monitoring and review of insects for potential resistance.

• Corn Rootworm, United States (2011 – ongoing)
  In 2011, entomologists at Monsanto became aware of heavy rootworm infestation in isolated fields across the Corn Belt where there was a long history of corn-on-corn plantings. Our team continues to work closely with farmers to implement best management practices on those fields where resistance is suspected, and farmers are seeing excellent results. Extensive information about the corn rootworm and our ongoing efforts are available in different section of our web site: Corn Rootworm Management
• Pink Bollworm in Cotton, India (2009 – Ongoing)
  In 2009, our entomologists detected and ultimately confirmed pink bollworm resistance to Bt cotton (Bollgard I) in Western India; no pink bollworm resistance was ever confirmed outside this area. In 2006, we introduced a new cotton seed that contained two different Bt proteins – providing additional and more robust protection against the bollworm. This product – Bollgard II – has replaced Bollgard I in all of our cotton seed markets, and no instances of insect resistance have been observed.

Monsanto scientists are continually researching and developing insect protection products and recommendations for farmers.

Monsanto scientists continually research causes of Bt resistance, as well as conduct research and development of other genes that could help control insect infestation. In addition, we regularly evaluate the need for updating our crop management recommendations as new scientific data becomes available.

SOURCE : http://www.monsanto.com/newsviews/pages/insect-resistance-to-gmo-and-bt-crops.aspx

Pink Bollworm Resistance to GM Cotton in India

Home / Newsroom / Viewpoints / Monsanto Company / Pink Bollworm Resistance to GM Cotton in India

Pink Bollworm In Cotton In India (2009 – Ongoing)
In 2009, Monsanto entomologists detected and, ultimately confirmed, pink bollworm resistance to our first-generation single-protein (Bacillus thuringiensis) Bollgard^® I cotton in four states in Western India. We worked closely with farmers to contain the resistance and implement effective insect resistance management programs. Today, Bollgard II – a second-generation cotton seed that contains two different Bt proteins – has replaced Bollgard I in all of our cotton seed markets. It provides additional and more robust protection against the bollworm, and no instances of insect resistance have been observed.

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Monsanto’s first-generation single-protein Bollgard I cotton (MON531) uses a naturally occurring Bt protein (Cry1Ac) to control insect pests. While resistance is natural and expected, the detection of pink bollworm resistance to Bollgard I in 2009 posed a significant threat to the nearly 5 million farmers who were planting the product in India.

We quickly equipped a team of experts to help farmers contain resistance to the Bt protein in Bollgard I cotton and to monitor the impact throughout India.

During testing, researchers determined that pink bollworm resistance to the protein was confirmed in four districts in the Indian state of Gujarat – Amreli, Bhavnagar, Junagarh and Rajkot. Among the factors that may have contributed to pink bollworm resistance are limited refuge planting and the early use of unapproved Bt cotton seed, planted prior to GEAC approval of Bollgard I cotton, which may have had lower protein expression levels. No insect resistance to Bollgard I has been confirmed outside these districts, and extensive monitoring throughout all of India continues to find that the resistance has been contained successfully.

The findings in Gujarat reaffirm it is essential to regularly monitor and scout fields throughout the season for insect presence and plant appropriate non-Bt refuge when planting Bt cotton seeds.

Measures to delay resistance are critically important. Adopting measures such as need-based application of insecticide sprays during the crop season, and proper management of crop residue and unopened bolls after harvest will help limit insects in cotton fields. Examples of such practices include tillage and cattle grazing to minimize the survival and spread of pink bollworm.

Research shows that pink bollworms are completely susceptible to the combination of two proteins expressed in second-generation in Bollgard II, which most Indian farmers choose to plant today.

We know it is imperative to stay ahead of insect resistance, and research continues to determine best management strategies to ensure the planting of refuges for Bollgard II and future products. In addition, we are committed to developing new high-performing products to give farmers a wider choice of insect-control technologies. We are currently working on a three-protein Bt cotton technology, and are open to collaborating with other technology providers in India to develop products that use the best available technologies for the benefit of Indian farmers.

SOURCE : http://www.monsanto.com/newsviews/pages/india-pink-bollworm.aspx