Feedstuffs Food Link article on GMOs and beneficial insects earns A for science

Beneficial insects not harmed by GM crops

Beneficial insects not harmed by GM crops

A LARGE body of literature has shown that genetically modified (GM) plants that produce proteins from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) to protect themselves from insect pests have little to no effect on a wide range of non-target insects. However, concerns about Bt crops still exist.

Now, two new studies using more exacting methods found that Bt crops have no negative effects on two beneficial insect predators or on a beneficial entomopathogenic nematode.

In an article in the February issue of Environmental Entomology, researchers used caterpillars that were known to be resistant to Bt proteins and fed them Bt maize and Bt cotton…

Click here to read the full text of the Feedstuff report on beneficial insects and GM crops.

Filed Under: Grading Science

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