What new GE crops are being developed?
GE crops commercialized in the next one to three years are likely to be versions of herbicide-resistant and Bt-insect resistant crops. New for the 2003 growing season is a variety of Bt corn that controls corn rootworms. More insecticide is used to control corn rootworm than for other corn insect pest in the U.S. Those broad-spectrum insecticides could be substantially replaced if the new Bt corn is widely adopted and if it performs as the developer predicts. However, EPA did not follow a panel of expert scientists’ recommendations on measures to prevent insect resistance and preserve the use of that crop. Instead EPA followed the weaker recommendation of the developer. The experts were also not satisfied with all of the environmental safety studies performed by the company, and EPA required further tests to be carried out over the three years of the temporary registration. Herbicide-tolerant (Roundup Ready) wheat is also in the pipeline for review and approval by U.S. and foreign regu
