Bt corn
What is Bt corn?
Bt corn is a type of genetically modified corn that has added genes to change certain characteristics. "Currently, the GMOs on the market today have been given genetic traits to provide protection from pests, tolerance to pesticides, or improve its quality" (3) This makes farming a lot easier for farmers because they do not need to spray for unwanted insects and if they do spray, the plants won't be harmed in any way. In addition, farmers will also make a greater income due to the increase in profit when people notice the great quality of the new corn.
So how does it work?
"To transform a plant into a GMO plant, the gene that produces a genetic trait of interest is identified and separated from the rest of the genetic material from a donor organism. Most organisms have thousands of genes; a single gene represents only a tiny fraction of the total genetic makeup of an organism" (3). By using this technique you are able to choose the specific traits needed for the crop. "A donor organism may be a bacterium, fungus or even another plant. In the case of Bt corn, the donor organism is a naturally occurring soil bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis, and the gene of interest produces a protein that kills Lepidoptera larvae, in particular, European corn borer. This protein is called the Bt delta endotoxin. Growers use Bt corn as an alternative to spraying insecticides for control of European and southwestern corn borer" (3)
As the video states above, Bt corn helps farmers in so many ways, it is no longer necessary to spray pesticides on crops and till the land for new crops to come. Using Bt corn does all the work for farmers and makes their lives so much easier.
Roundup Ready
"The Roundup Ready Rate™ of a residual herbicide is tested and proven for use in the Roundup Ready® system. It is a specified rate that is designed to deliver optimum crop safety and early-season weed control, resulting in added flexibility for applying a post application of Roundup® agricultural herbicide in Roundup Ready crops"(11). Many pesticides like this work because of inserted genes in Gm crops. The herbicide does not affect the crop but kills the weeds surrounding it.
Thanks to Monsanto...
Monsanto is a biotech company that is working "to help farmers around the world produce more while conserving more", they also "help farmers grow yield sustainably so they can be successful, produce healthier foods, better animal feed and more fiber, while also reducing agriculture's impact on our environment" (9) . Monsanto also offers a wide variety of corn herbicides for example:
Bullet® is a timed-release, premix herbicide that controls 36 of your toughest grasses and broadleaf weeds in corn and grain sorghum.
And
Degree® and Degree XTRA® herbicides work like no other corn herbicides, thanks to an exclusive and patented temperature-release technology (9)
