What is Bacillus thuringiensis (Alias Bt)?
Hugh G. Philip, P.Ag. Entomologist, Kelowna Introduction In nature, insect population changes are regulated by a number of factors such as weather, competition for food and space, and by parasites, predators and diseases, to name just a few. Until the widespread reliance on synthetic pesticides to control insect pests, food producers had to rely on the presence of natural control agents such as diseases to help protect their crops from insect feeding. Since the Second World War, protection of food crops has involved development and application of various insect control products to ensure maximum production of high quality produce demanded by consumers. However, the consequences of using these products on the health of not only consumers but also on the environment and its biological components has become a matter of serious, often very emotional, public debate. This debate has fostered greater interest by the agri-food industry, chemical manufacturers and regulatory agencies in alterna
