In Defense of the Bt Gene by William Porter

Genetically modified crops are seen by some as a technological advancement and a way

to feed the ever-growing population of the world. Others view them as harmful, poisonous, and

unhealthy foods that can cause plenty of diseases and nutritional deficiencies. One of the most

common genetic modifications in staple food crops is the introduction of the Bt gene from the

bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis (Niederhuber). When incorporated, the gene causes the plants to

produce a toxin that is effective at controlling insect pests, decreasing the need of chemical

pesticides. The proteins in the gene become toxic when digested in the stomach

Agriculture is a massive industry and as the world’s population grows, the industry must

keep up. To increase production, many farmers rely on pesticides. An estimate from the EPA

states that 5 billion pounds of pesticides are used around the world each year, which costs up to

35 billion dollars (Niederhuber). By growing Bt crops, this cost of pesticides can be brought

down exponentially.

The Bt toxins were initially used as a liquid pesticide. The pesticide rapidly breaks down,

often within 48 hours (GMO Science). To combat this, the pesticide would have to be applied

multiple times in a single growing season. By inserting the gene into the plant, the pesticide

applications would no longer be necessary. The Bt modified crops have been in use around the

world since the 1990’s. Though this practice is so prevalent it is still a highly debated subject.

Some groups believe that due to this gene producing a toxin, this will make the plants toxic to

humans and other mammals. This toxin is only harmful to insects however and has been proven

safe for mammals to consume in high concentrations (Niederhuber).

Not all studies have proven the Bt gene to be entirely safe. Some studies on the safety of

the Bt gene have shown possible damage to the intestines in rats. This negative outcome

occurred at such a low rate however that they could not be statistically viable as a conclusion
(GMO Science). This possible correlation however has fueled the fire for the anti-Bt side of the

argument.

With the introduction of these crops into the global agriculture scene, pesticide use has

decreased exponentially. This decrease in pesticide usage has numerous environmental benefits.

Many pesticides in use around the world are toxic to almost every organism on earth (Aktar,

Sengupta, and Chowdury). When pesticides are sprayed on food crops, residues often remain.

When ingested, these residues have extremely detrimental effects. These residues can also enter

drinking water supplies damaging those who even avoid crops grown with pesticides (Drinking

Water Contamination Due to Pesticide Residues). Without decreasing pesticide use, agriculture

will not be sustainable.

The introduction of the Bt gene in food crops has been an extreme success for genetic

engineering, environmental safety, and the agricultural industry. By decreasing pesticide use and

increasing agricultural efficiency, the introduction of the Bt gene has placed us one step closer to

solving the global food problem.

Sources

Aktar, Md. Wasim, Dwaipayan Sengupta, and Ashim Chowdhury. "Impact of Pesticides Use in

Agriculture: Their Benefits and Hazards." Interdisciplinary Toxicology. Slovak

Toxicology Society SETOX, Mar. 2009. Web. 02 July 2017.

"Are All Forms of Bt Toxin Safe?" GMO Science. N.p., 28 Dec. 2015. Web. 02 July 2017.
Niederhuber, Matthew. "Insecticidal Plants: The Tech and Safety of GM Bt Crops." Science in
the News. Harvard University, 10 Aug. 2015. Web. 02 July 2017.
"Pesticide Residues in Drinking Water." Drinking Water Contamination Due to Pesticide
Residues. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 July 2017.