Insects Evolve To Resist GMO Toxins

Mother Nature seems to already be one step ahead of human interference, corn rootworms are now largely resistant to the toxin in Bt corn. Despite people predicting this would happen from the very beginning, our industrialized system of agriculture chose to ignore warnings and followed their own greed and short-sightedness. Perhaps people will now rethink trying to alter the whole ecosystem to serve human convenience? From wired.com:

One of agricultural biotechnology’s great success stories may become a cautionary tale of how short-sighted mismanagement can squander the benefits of genetic modification.

After years of predicting it would happen — and after years of having their suggestions largely ignored by companies, farmers and regulators — scientists have documented the rapid evolution of corn rootworms that are resistant to Bt corn.

Until Bt corn was genetically altered to be poisonous to the pests, rootworms used to cause billions of dollars in damage to U.S. crops. Named for the pesticidal toxin-producing Bacillus thuringiensis gene it contains, Bt corn now accounts for three-quarters of the U.S. corn crop. The vulnerability of this corn could be disastrous for farmers and the environment.

Read the full article… (wired.com)