Tuesday 09 June 2009
Super Corn-borers Threaten World Ecological and Economical Disaster
Listen to Make a Difference by South African Band Tucan-Tucan
By Trevor Wells
Farmers' Legal Action Group-South Africa
The naturally occurring bacillus thuriengus (Bt) is one of the most useful living organisms known to mankind.
It was found that this bacteria produces a crystal insecticide (Cry toxin) which kills insect larvae.
In 1993, prior to the introduction of GM maize in South Africa, Dr Rami Kfir of the South African Agricultural Research Council (ARC) reported in the Journal of African Zoology 107:543-553 that these useful insecticidal bacteria play an important role in the ecological cycle of all indigenous grasses, sorghum and maize which hosts the African Stalkborer (Busseola fusca).
The larvae of the stalkborer hibernate over winter in the dry stalks of grasses.
He reported a high winter mortality rate of larvae of the stalkborer which he attributed partially to Bt which he had significantly isolated, among other pathogens, on the cadavers of the hibernating stalkborer.
Scientists have succeeded in producing commercial formulations, both granular and liquid, of Cry toxins which are extremely effective when applied at the hatching, crawling and early eating stages when the larvae are exposed and most vulnerable. It is strategically applied by conventional means or pivot irrigation by farmers. The importance of this insecticide is that it biodegrades on the plant and is therefore non-toxic to humans and beneficial insects when used correctly. It has become increasingly important in the control of mosquitoes.
Naturally occurring Bt is therefore an important reservoir of Cry toxins for producing these commercial insecticides.
In 1985 Belgium scientists isolated the gene in Bt which produces the Cry toxin. First inserted into tobacco and later into corn, now popularly named Bt GM corn. Scientists have not been able to control the secretion of this insecticide in GM corn. They were unable to cause the plant to secrete the insecticide strategically at the time when the cornborer larvae is most vunerable. This is an important distinction from the application of biodegradable commercial Bt insecticide by
conventional farmers. Furthermore, it differs greatly from the attack on overwintering larvae by naturally occuring live Bt.
In 2005 the first reported cases of Bt resistant corn borer were reported by Senwes (A large Agribusiness in South Africa). They observed that large numbers of cornborer were surviving during the tasseling period. Senwes warned that these larvae were the predecessors of the first moth flight of the following season. Each moth lays 1500 eggs, 150 at a time on different host plants. Each of these Bt resistant offspring now pupate and the second moth flight of the season begins. One does not have to be an epidemiologist to work out that the spread of these resistant cornborer through Africa will be faster than the HIV/AIDS endemic.
Finally, 3 seasons later in a 2008 article in the Farmers’ Weekly, Monsanto admitted that stalkborer were now resistant to their Yieldgard maize. Monsanto did nothing to contain the spread of this new super resistant cornborer.
Monsanto merely announced that they were in the process of developing some new technology which would “starve the resistant cornborer” (sic).
Both the economic and ecological importance of the naturally occurring, previously beneficial bacteria Bt, has been effectively neutralised.
A world catastrophe of endemic proportion which could have been prevented.
Farmers' Legal Action Group-South Africa
The naturally occurring bacillus thuriengus (Bt) is one of the most useful living organisms known to mankind.
It was found that this bacteria produces a crystal insecticide (Cry toxin) which kills insect larvae.
Bt plays an important ecological role in the natural control of stalkborer (cornborer).
In 1993, prior to the introduction of GM maize in South Africa, Dr Rami Kfir of the South African Agricultural Research Council (ARC) reported in the Journal of African Zoology 107:543-553 that these useful insecticidal bacteria play an important role in the ecological cycle of all indigenous grasses, sorghum and maize which hosts the African Stalkborer (Busseola fusca).
The larvae of the stalkborer hibernate over winter in the dry stalks of grasses.
He reported a high winter mortality rate of larvae of the stalkborer which he attributed partially to Bt which he had significantly isolated, among other pathogens, on the cadavers of the hibernating stalkborer.
Bt plays an important economical role as a source of biodegradable insecticide.
Scientists have succeeded in producing commercial formulations, both granular and liquid, of Cry toxins which are extremely effective when applied at the hatching, crawling and early eating stages when the larvae are exposed and most vulnerable. It is strategically applied by conventional means or pivot irrigation by farmers. The importance of this insecticide is that it biodegrades on the plant and is therefore non-toxic to humans and beneficial insects when used correctly. It has become increasingly important in the control of mosquitoes.
Naturally occurring Bt is therefore an important reservoir of Cry toxins for producing these commercial insecticides.
In 1985 Belgium scientists isolated the gene in Bt which produces the Cry toxin. First inserted into tobacco and later into corn, now popularly named Bt GM corn. Scientists have not been able to control the secretion of this insecticide in GM corn. They were unable to cause the plant to secrete the insecticide strategically at the time when the cornborer larvae is most vunerable. This is an important distinction from the application of biodegradable commercial Bt insecticide by
conventional farmers. Furthermore, it differs greatly from the attack on overwintering larvae by naturally occuring live Bt.
What is the result of constantly exuded Cry toxin, in every single cell of the corn plant from seed to mouth? Especially at times when the larvae are least vulnerable?
In 2005 the first reported cases of Bt resistant corn borer were reported by Senwes (A large Agribusiness in South Africa). They observed that large numbers of cornborer were surviving during the tasseling period. Senwes warned that these larvae were the predecessors of the first moth flight of the following season. Each moth lays 1500 eggs, 150 at a time on different host plants. Each of these Bt resistant offspring now pupate and the second moth flight of the season begins. One does not have to be an epidemiologist to work out that the spread of these resistant cornborer through Africa will be faster than the HIV/AIDS endemic.
Finally, 3 seasons later in a 2008 article in the Farmers’ Weekly, Monsanto admitted that stalkborer were now resistant to their Yieldgard maize. Monsanto did nothing to contain the spread of this new super resistant cornborer.
Monsanto merely announced that they were in the process of developing some new technology which would “starve the resistant cornborer” (sic).
Conclusion
Both the economic and ecological importance of the naturally occurring, previously beneficial bacteria Bt, has been effectively neutralised.
The Result
A world catastrophe of endemic proportion which could have been prevented.
Labels: cornborer monsanto disaster ecological economical
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]
Post a Comment