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Pest Resistant Crops

Bacillus thuringiensis, a microbe often used as a biological pesticide, has been used to

crop dust for years. In recent years, however, certain crops, often maize, tomatoes, potatoes, and

cotton, have been engineered to hold this bacterium inside them to kill insects ("Pest Resistant

Crops"). There has been debate, however, over whether or not these pest resistant crops, a type of

transgenic crop, are actually benefitting us along with how safe these pest resistant crops really

are. I believe that pest resistant crops have made a big wave in the health and biotechnology

worlds and are beneficial innovations. Pest resistant crops are good because pest-tolerant plants

development can lower the use of pesticide, they are safe for people to eat, they are better for the

environment, and scientists can grow pest-tolerant plants that just target specific pests (Boyd).

The use of pest resistant crops, plants that have a biological pesticide genetically

engineered into them by a scientist, has lowered the utilization of plain pesticides or pesticides

that simply get sprayed on fields of plants to get rid of troublesome pests. Pesticides are used at a

variety of places, including farms, schools, forests, parks, and even personal homes ("The

Problem with Pesticides"). There is a great risk with using these pesticides; in the past, they have

contributed to short-term effects like nausea and headaches. There are also chronically serious

impacts that can be happen that are linked to pesticide use such as multiple types of cancer and

damage to the endocrine system . Additionally, kids are especially susceptible to pesticide related

harm, since studies have shown that the human brain is not fully developed until the 12 years

old. Pesticides also have a negative effect on the environment, since they are toxic to living

organisms ("The Problem with Pesticides"). They can pollute the air and weaken plant immune

systems and root systems. Pesticides sprayed on fields and plants are a bad idea because all of
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the confirmed harm they can cause, but there still might be instances where sprayed pesticides

must be used because it would take too long to add the pest resistant gene to the plant or the

funds for pest resistant crops are not available. With the information provided, it is clear to see

that pest resistant crops, also known as GMOs, are the superior option to sprayed pesticides.

Although many worry and are skeptical of the safety of GMOs, scientist have been able

to establish that they are safe for humans to eat. According to a National Academy of Sciences

report released last May, pest resistant crops are just as safe as the regular fruits and vegetables.

Although scientists cannot be 100% on whether GMOs could have a bad side in the future, they

study their genes and are the ones who engineer them to resist pests. The biochemical pesticides

in plants are still pesticides, so it is understandable if somehow there are some side effects to

consuming GMOs. This technology is new and still being tested and having research done on it.

If one continuously and consistently is around or solely consumes food that has been genetically

modified to be pest resistant it is possible that negative effects might ensue. This concern is

exponentially smaller than the other pesticides, however, since the pesticides have been

incorporated into the genes of the plants.

In the same report from the National Academy of Sciences that said GMOs are safe for

humans to eat, it was found that pest resistant crops have no known negative impact on the

environment (Haspel). More than enough pollution comes from other areas, so it is comforting to

know that genetically modified fruits and vegetables will not hurt the environment. Not only do

pest resistant crops fail to harm the environment, they assist in keeping it clean. It was revealed

by Oklahoma State University that pest resistant crops frequently need less chemicals to be
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produced than regular plants, thus possibly decreasing greenhouse gas emissions and

environmental pollution and overall improving our quality of living (Duvauchelle).

Not all insects ruin plants and completely destroy fields like aphid, slug, earwig. Damsel

bugs and soldier beetles feed on insects that harm plants (ROL Staff). Farmers and gardeners do

not want these helpful bugs to be eliminated, so thankfully scientists can engineer pest resistant

crops to just get rid of specific pests (Avasthi). One object of affection has been the Colorado

Potato Beetle. During the growing season of the potato, the Colorado Potato Beetle feasts on the

flourishing stems and leaves, limiting the plants ability to grow. This is an issue because the

potato is extremely important to American agriculture, with it being the most popular vegetable

with the majority American consumers ("Insect-resistant Crops Through Genetic Engineering).

Since potatoes are rather hard to grow, potato farmers cannot afford to lose any of their product

to pests. This is why specificity when killing insects is important. For instance, say a farmer is

having problems with Colorado Potato Beetles harming his potatoes, so he decides to get a plant

that kills off bugs, but instead of killing only Colorado Potato Beetles, the plant gets rid of all

insects. The specificity possible with pest resistant crops just adds to the list of reasons why they

are a good choice.

People often turn to Pest resistant crops, nicknamed GMOs for genetically modified

organism, not even knowing the reason they get modified or even their actual name. GMOs often

are sought after by consumers for their health benefits, and their has been controversy is GMOs

benefits health or is detrimental to it. Staying educated on what you eat and why you eat it is

important but with the reasons previously given, the production of genetically modified

organisms can lower the use of pesticide, they are safe for people to eat, they are better for the
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environment, and scientists can grow pest resistant plants that just target specific insects, it is

clear that the tremendous benefits of these foods out ways the theoretical dangers of using

them.
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Works Cited

Avasthi, Amitabh. "Pest-Resistant Crops Better Than Insecticide Use, Analysis Says." National

Geographic. National Geographic Society, 7 June 2007. Web. 10 Mar. 2017.

Boyd, Janet. "What Are the Pros & Cons of Transgenic Crops - The Maize Full Length CDNA

Project." What Are the Pros & Cons of Transgenic Crops - The Maize Full Length CDNA

Project. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2017.

Duvauchelle, Joshua. "Pros & Cons of GMO Foods." L

IVESTRONG.COM. Leaf Group, 13 Jan.

2014. Web. 10 Mar. 2017.

Haspel, Tamar. "Scientists Say GMO Foods Are Safe, Public Skepticism Remains." The Plate.

N.p., Web. National Geographic Society, 18 May 2016. Web. 10 Mar. 2017.

"Insect-resistant Crops Through Genetic Engineering." Insect-resistant Crops Through Genetic

Engineering. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2017.

"Pest Resistant Crops." GeneWatch UK - Pest Resistant Crops - Pest Resistant Crops (Bt Crops)

Produce Toxins Which Kill Insect Pests. Bt Maize Is Grown Largely for Use in Animal

Feed and Biofuels in North and South America. Bt Cotton Is Also Grown in India and

China. GeneWatch UK, n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2017.

ROL Staff. "10 Insects You Should Actually Want Around Your Plants." Rodale's Organic Life.

Rodale Inc., 11 May 2016. Web. 10 Mar. 2017.

"The Problem with Pesticides." The Problem with Pesticides | Toxics Action Center. Toxics

Action Center, n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2017.