Natural and
alternative health news backed by science and experience.
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by
Mike Barrett
December 6th, 2011 | Updated 11/08/2012 at 11:32 am
December 6th, 2011 | Updated 11/08/2012 at 11:32 am
The Environmental Protection Agency has
recently found that Monsanto’s genetically modified corn, which was created to
kill insects, may be losing its effectiveness against rootworms. The
genetically modified corn has been engineered with Bacillus thuringiensis (BT),
an insecticide harnessing an insect-killing protein.
The EPA found that the resistant
rootworms, which are evolving to resist the insecticide, are currently
found Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota and Nebraska. After the EPA evaluated
documented cases of severe crop damage as well as reports from entomologists,
the EPA
stated “Monsanto’s program for monitoring suspected cases of resistance is
‘inadequate’”.
This of course is not the first time
that genetically modified crops have led to insect populations that are resistant
to the biopesticides contained in the crops. As this problem of resistance
continues to occur, the amount of insecticides needed to be used soars. As
insects adapt to the genetically modified Bt, the biopesticide becomes
absolutely worthless, igniting a vicious
cycle of further genetic alteration and increased pesticide/herbicide use.
In a similar vein of resistance, it has
recently been reported that Monsanto’s best-selling herbicide Roundup has
created a new category of resistant superweeds. These
resistant weeds currently cover over 4.5 million hectares in the United States
alone, though experts estimate the world-wide land coverage to have
reached at least 120 million hectares by 2010.
Monsanto managed to rake in $11.8
billion in sales during the fiscal year ended Aug 31, and it is no wonder why.
Not only does the company make incredible profit off of its top-selling
products sold to farmers nationwide, but 41
percent of that profit is completely driven by their genetically modified corn.
Of course it can’t be too difficult to rake in that kind of money from GM corn
when the crop is heavily
subsidized by the government.
On the other hand, organic and
sustainable farming practices do not require endless amounts of genetic
modification, heavy pesticide use, and aren’t subject to the negative health
effects that go along with conventional farming. This kind of sustainable and
health-promoting farming is what activists and environmentalists have been
pushing for years. It seems that when Monsanto isn’t involved, farming becomes much simpler, healthy, and
environmentally friendly.
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About
Mike Barrett:
 Google
Plus Profile | Mike is the co-founder, editor, and primary researcher
behind Natural Society. Studying the work of top natural health activists,
and writing special reports for top 10 alternative health websites, Mike has
written hundreds of articles and pages on how to obtain optimum wellness
through natural health.
end quote from:
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For example, according to the article there are now resistant rootworms who are not susceptible to and who are:
resistant to the biopesticides contained within the germ of the corn itself.
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