Increase in GM Crops, Resistant Weeds Lead to Dramatic Rise in Pesticide Use

[DainBramaged]

The widespread use of genetically modified (GM) crops engineered to tolerate herbicides has led to a sharp increase in the use of agricultural chemicals in the U.S. This practice is creating herbicide-resistant "super weeds" and an increase in chemical residues in U.S. food, according to a new report released today by The Organic Center, the Union for Concerned Scientists, and the Center for Food Safety.

According to the report, entitled "Impacts of Genetically Engineered Crops on Pesticide Use in the United States: The First Thirteen Years," as more farmers have adopted variations of corn, soy beans, and cotton bred to tolerate weed killer in recent years, the use of herbicides has increased steadily, with herbicide use growing by 383 million pounds from 1996 to 2008, according to the report. Forty-six percent of that increase occurred during 2007 and 2008.

On the plus side, the report said the use of insecticides has actually decreased by 64 million pounds since 1996 because many genetically modified crops such as cotton and corn carry traits that make them resistant to insects.

The most popular genetically modified crops are known as "Roundup Ready" for their ability to survive after being sprayed with the herbicide, Roundup. Officials with the Biotechnology Industry Organization said herbicide-resistant crops initially made it easier for farmers to manage weed problems. Over time, however, an unfortunate consequence has been a growing epidemic of herbicide-resistant weeds.

http://www.enn.com/top_stories/article/40723

[eppur_se_muova]

1. Oh, great -- a "twofer". nt

[Nihil]

2. BOGOF

(or "Buy One Get One Free" in politer form :-) )

[The2ndWheel]

3. That the self-appointed stewards of the planet

can designate some life as "pests", and then come up with a way to attempt to eradicate them on large scales, is all you need to know about what we'll try to come up with to "fight" climate change. Nobody asked us to control this thing we call Earth. That's why we're going to fail.

[malakai2]

4. I was at a pesticide coordination meeting recently

State agriculture commissioner, bunch of growers associations, bunch of pesticide manufacturer reps...

They don't care. The commissioner and the growers believe they can just move on to something else, the manufacturers believe they'll just come up with a new formulation, they absolutely HATE regulation-I felt like I was living the 2-minutes hate, except it went on for eight hours-and they are actively lobbying senators to have pesticides redefined in the Clean Water Act and FIFRA as non-pollutants.

[phantom power]

5. Has it occurred to them to ask the wonder boys at Monsanto...

if they have "something else" to move on to? Cuz if they don't, that would put a kink in their plan.

:shrug:

[malakai2]

6. In my capacity, if I asked that question...

I'd lose my job.

The meeting was actually a bit surreal. The room was packed with these guys, talking about what special exemptions they "need" to "control" this pest or that pest, and the only discussion of impacts to surface water, ground water, wildlife, and PEOPLE is "don't let those damn environmentalists get in on this, or they'll try to shut us down." And then there was several hours of discussion of the National Cotton Council case in the 6th Circuit, which DID define pesticide residuals in surface water as pollution...I had to fight so hard to not laugh at these guys complaining about activist judges while also wondering if they could find a court to re-hear it and make the "right" choice. Then there was the guy who's in charge of administering the regulations, and he says they have a tiny enforcement budget, but that's okay because they have 100 percent compliance (wink and grin from Mr. Lax Enforcement).

Good thing I didn't have to ask that question. The pesticide companies that were represented yesterday each had new stuff coming out in each of the next several years. Wouldn't you know it, one of the shiny new things (an entire product line actually) was ALREADY losing effect to resistant pests, and this is before the shiny new thing has even hit the market. You know what they're going to do? Recover their investment by marketing it, at the expense of whoever's left holding the jug of useless pesticide in a year or two.

[Canuckistanian]

7. Can I ask what you do?

You seem to be very knowledgeable about crop biotech.

[malakai2]

9. I work for the government

The intersection of biology, toxicology, chemistry, a bunch of environmental laws, probably a few things my boss hasn't shared with me yet, etc. Agricultural issues just tend to pop up all the time, so when someone says "Hey, let's start using pesticide X on critter A," I have to know how the entire process works, from development in the lab through permitting and marketing to field application to how it works on the target organism, and finally what happens to the residue left over after it's applied.

It is fascinating in a way, but also depressing.

[Canuckistanian]

10. I don't know if I could do that

That is, hold my tongue while I saw that happening.

[Dead_Parrot]

8. My money is on...

...corn resistant to piranha. Then we can destroy all life except for one crop and live happily ever after.