Insects are now resistant.

http://www.enewspf.com/latest-news/science-a-environmental/31779-overuse-of-genetically-engineered-bt-corn-tied-to-accelerated-resistance.html

This article, published in late March, addresses a novel but much anticipated concern for the familiar agribusiness giant already embroiled in controversy. A number of plant scientists are warning the EPA that Monsanto’s (and other biotech company's who share the licenses for the patents) prized GM biotech bt-corn is increasingly ineffective in the prevention and eradication of plant damaging insect infestations. While the patented Bt-corn has proven an effective tool in reducing corn rootworm infestations for a number of years now, corn entomologists and other scientists are expressing a collective concern that these biotech crops are losing ground in the battle against those pesky insects. This problem has been long predicted by scientists in the field, and the financial ramifications are not small.

The United States department of Agriculture estimates that the western corn rootworm are responsible for $1 billion in lost revenue annually, and that 30 million acres (out of 80 million grown) are currently infested. Monsanto has responded with claims that minimize the perceived threat of rootworm infestation. Danielle Stuart, a Monsanto spokeswoman indicated that rootworm only affected .2% of corn and that they were working closely with those farmers to treat the problem. Whosever’s data more accurately represents the physical extent of the infestation (and one imagines corn farmers and the USDA that regulates this agriculture does) the fiscal losses due to corn rootworm is easily quantifiable and cannot be denied, and the situation presents financial trouble for GM bt-corn farmers that already must purchase new patented seeds every season and poses health questions for consumers as additional pesticides are again necessary to combat the bugs. This issue traverses the non-gmo corn market as well as non-gmo corn farms in close proximity to GM corn can become contaminated with the patented bt-crop through cross-pollination. Also, organic farmers who do not use GM seeds have sometimes used a bacterial spray that contains the bt-toxin, however this treatment is rendered equally ineffectual against resistant rootworms.

On March 5^th, 22 scientists sent letters to the EPA urging federal regulators to take action over the issue. They mention “detections of greater than expected damage” that has grown into problem areas in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska, and South Dakota over the past two years. The entomologists warn that these reports in combination with scientific studies illustrate that resistance to the toxin is “solidly established in the field and likely spreading.” In response to insect resistance, biotech corporations such as Monsanto have paired the bt toxin Cry3Bb1 with a second toxin “Cry34/35Ab1” in their newer SmartStax© line of seeds. However, scientists are doubtful this will solve the problem: “entomologists expressed concern that rapid emergence of resistance to the Cry3Bb1 toxin will quickly compromise the effectiveness of all other toxins with which it is partnered in so-called “pyramid” seeds.” The corn entomologists and other scientists were also critical of the EPA’s decision to reduce the size of the non-bt corn insect refuge areas previously mandated by federal guidelines for bt-corn growers. Of course, Bt-corn is not the only crop contributing to resistance, the same genetic modifications have been used for cotton, soy, and rice however in the states, with over 57% of our domestic corn being the GM bt-variety, this issue has a large bearing on our agricultural economy and food supply, especially in the corn belt, but also in the greater global economy as the U.S. is the world’s largest corn supplier.