-- Peter L Borst <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Bt crops appear to be safe for the farmers and for consumers. ...Thus, Bt toxins are considered environmentally friendly by many farmers and may be a potential alternative to broad spectrum insecticides. 

yes,this is true.  however, according to michael pollan (and others), bt was previously used mostly by 'organic' farmers and gardeners on an as needed basis (not for applying  by the calendar).  now that it has been incorporated into crops directly (where it is always present), resistance to bt is a certainty...one which even the manufacturers predict will give a very useful lifespan for these crops (20 or so years, if i remember correctly).  never fear, they are already at work on the next toxin to be incorporated...which will likely have the same long term resistance issues...keeping those r&d folks in business as they must keep replacing the last product with one that resistance hasn't become an issue with yet.

deknow

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