How Can Biotechnology Reduce Production Risks for the Farmer?
Farmers face many different kinds of production risks, such as insect and disease infestations, weather-related calamities such as drought, and insufficient soil fertility. By using plants improved by genetic modification, farmers can reduce the risks of these and other problems that reduce their yields or destroy their crops. Most notably, plant scientists have produced seed varieties that have given the plants a natural form of protection from certain insect pests such as corn borers (for corn), Colorado potato beetle and tobacco budworm (potatoes), and the boll weevil (cotton). These genetically modified varieties include what is referred to as Bt corn, Bt potatoes, and Bt cotton, named for bacillus thuringiensis, a bacterium that occurs naturally in the soil. Plant geneticists have also produced herbicide-tolerant soybeans and corn, allowing farmers to reduce chemical use. By planting seed varieties that can protect themselves against plant pests, farmers are able to reduce the amo
