Pesticide/ herbicide resistance is quickly becoming a larger problem in the world of agriculture than we may have previously thought. In 1970 there were no known herbicide resistant weed unfortunately, today we are dealing with 273 herbicide-resistant known weeds. There are over 500 resistant insects (Bellinger).DDT was introduced as the first organic insecticide, and its resistances were being noticed several years later. Genetic engineers have been looking at many different aspects to create a healthy way to fight off these Insects. The most recognized method of resistant control to GMO (genetically modified) plants is BT, this is a naturally occurring soil bacterium being used in a few agriculture crops. This introduction will hopefully be facing lower planting and pesticide costs due to the new technologies being genetically introduced to their crops. Insects are a major cause of yield loss and crop damage. There are several studies that have taken place that show ways to reduce evolutionary resistance to the BT plants, this is called refugia. This way of planting has slowed the evolutionary process down, however it has not exactly stopped the problem. This subject is directly effecting many researchers and large companies. There are several ways that researchers are trying to combat this subject without the use of harsh chemicals. I would like to find the best possible solution to this problem as a fifth generation farmer.
~JE
This is for sure a hot topic right now. In ecology, the use of herbicides and pesticides is usually something that we want to reduce, but at times we have to have it as a tool (dealing with invasive species, e.g.), so herbicide resistance is a concern for non-agriculture researchers, as well.
I am very interested in learning about GMO’s. I am excited to read your information so that I can learn more about pesticides and herbicides. I understand that there needs to be a certain amount of control on weeds and pests, however I think that with the advancment in technology we may be over doing it and causing organisims to become resistant which could be more of a problem in the furture than what we are dealing with now. If we dont use chemicals what are the repercusions of geneticly modifying plant?