Nature & Environment
Mexican Farmers Spread 3000 Tons of Pesticide Over Corn: GMOs the Answer?
Catherine Griffin
First Posted: Nov 17, 2014 09:55 AM EST
Is there a way to reduce pesticide use? Scientists believe that insect-resistant maize could be the answer. Scientists have found that modified maize could increase yields and decrease pesticide use in Mexico.
In order to combat insects, Mexican farmers primarily rely on chemical insecticides. In fact, about 3,000 tons of active ingredients are used each year just to manage the fall armyworm. In addition, other chemicals are used to control other pests, such as the corn earworm and the black cutworm. Because these pests are so widespread, Mexico uses the highest quantity of pesticides per hectare of arable land in North America.
While integrated pest management programs (IPM), which aim to minimize economic damage and lower environmental and health risks, are widespread in several crops, IPM is highly uncommon in Mexican maize crops. In order to find out why this is, the scientists examined the main pests that reduce maize production and the methods used to control these pests.
"According to our estimates, 3,000 tons of organophosphate active ingredient is sold in Mexico each year to control only fall armyworm, only on corn," said Urbano Nava-Camberos, one of the co-authors of the new study, in a news release. "In addition, applications are also made to cutworms, corn rootworms, borers, and corn earworms that do not necessarily coincide with the fall armyworm applications. However, all of these insect pests can be effectively controlled with Bt corn and integrated pest management programs."
In fact, the lack of insect-resistant maize varieties, such as Bt hybrids, are what has really caused the increased use in pesticides. While there are those who oppose the introduction of these varieties in Mexico, the use of pesticides may actually be the greater environmental threat in the long term.
"Unfortunately, people who oppose the introduction of this technology in Mexico do not seem to realize that a far greater environmental impact is done by applying more than 3,000 tons of insecticide active ingredient each year," said Guadalupe Pellegaud, co-author of the new study.
The findings are published in the Journal of Integrated Pest Management.
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First Posted: Nov 17, 2014 09:55 AM EST
Is there a way to reduce pesticide use? Scientists believe that insect-resistant maize could be the answer. Scientists have found that modified maize could increase yields and decrease pesticide use in Mexico.
In order to combat insects, Mexican farmers primarily rely on chemical insecticides. In fact, about 3,000 tons of active ingredients are used each year just to manage the fall armyworm. In addition, other chemicals are used to control other pests, such as the corn earworm and the black cutworm. Because these pests are so widespread, Mexico uses the highest quantity of pesticides per hectare of arable land in North America.
While integrated pest management programs (IPM), which aim to minimize economic damage and lower environmental and health risks, are widespread in several crops, IPM is highly uncommon in Mexican maize crops. In order to find out why this is, the scientists examined the main pests that reduce maize production and the methods used to control these pests.
"According to our estimates, 3,000 tons of organophosphate active ingredient is sold in Mexico each year to control only fall armyworm, only on corn," said Urbano Nava-Camberos, one of the co-authors of the new study, in a news release. "In addition, applications are also made to cutworms, corn rootworms, borers, and corn earworms that do not necessarily coincide with the fall armyworm applications. However, all of these insect pests can be effectively controlled with Bt corn and integrated pest management programs."
In fact, the lack of insect-resistant maize varieties, such as Bt hybrids, are what has really caused the increased use in pesticides. While there are those who oppose the introduction of these varieties in Mexico, the use of pesticides may actually be the greater environmental threat in the long term.
"Unfortunately, people who oppose the introduction of this technology in Mexico do not seem to realize that a far greater environmental impact is done by applying more than 3,000 tons of insecticide active ingredient each year," said Guadalupe Pellegaud, co-author of the new study.
The findings are published in the Journal of Integrated Pest Management.
See Now: NASA's Juno Spacecraft's Rendezvous With Jupiter's Mammoth Cyclone