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Industry Joint Statement If we want to reduce chemical pesticide use in corn crops and our corn grain products to be free from aflatoxin, we must plant Bt corn.
What is Bt corn?Bt com is genetically modified com incorporated with protein from a naturally occurring soil microorganism (Bt) that gives the crop built-in protection from corn borers. When a corn borer eats Bt, a digestive enzyme converts the protein into a toxic form, which damages the corn borer's digestive system, causing it to die. What is Bt?Bacillus thuringiensis, or Bt, is a bacterium that occurs naturally in soil. For over 40 years now, the Bt protein has been used safely as an organic insect control agent. It is widely available as an insecticidal spray commonly used by home gardeners and organic farmers to control a variety of insects. As a matter of fact, Benguet organic and vegetable farmers have been using Bt under the brand names Dipel and Thuricide for this purpose since the 1980s. Bt poses no health risk to the user or consumer (it is non-allergenic and non-toxic), and it kills only a specific insect group. Humans, other mammals, birds, fish and most desirable insects are not affected by Bt because their digestive systems do not produce the enzymes required to activate the Bt protein. Why was Bt corn developed?Infestation by corn borers can reduce yields by as much as forty percent or more, adversely affecting the livelihood of farmers. Damaged corn grains are not only of poor quality, they are also likely to be contaminated with liver-cancer causing aflatoxin produced by molds that attack injured corn grains. Until the introduction of Bt corn, the only effective way to control corn borer infestation is the use of expensive pesticides that, when improperly used, can have adverse effects on the health of farmers and can kill even non-targeted insects. Bt corn was developed mainly to control the corn borer, and thus improve yield for farmers. Also, the use of expensive pesticides is greatly reduced. Field tests conducted in the Philippines confirm that planting Bt corn resulted in higher yield due to reduced losses from insect damage and lower production cost. How widely used is Bt corn now?Since 1996, almost 44 million hectares of land have been planted globally with Bt corn. Millions of tons of Bt corn have also been incorporated into our food products with no scientifically proven report of adverse effects on human health and damage to the environment. The risks of cross-pollination and insect-resistance build-up have also been effectively managed. How safe is Bt corn?Unlike conventionally bred crops that are regarded safe because they have been consumed for a long time, genetically modified crops now in the market have undergone years of rigorous science-based safety assessment. They have been scientifically proven to be substantially equivalent to their conventional counterparts and are considered as safe for consumption. In the Philippines, all concerned regulatory agencies have thoroughly studied the issues related to the commercial use of Bt corn and have concluded that the risks, if any, could be managed under Philippine conditions. The United States, Canada, Argentina, South Africa, Australia, Japan, Korea, Switzerland, and the European Union have approved Bt corn for food and feed and have confirmed the safety of the product. All scare stories about Bt corn have been reviewed and found not supported by sound scientific practice and good evidence. In spite of the scare tactics of anti-GMO groups, a total of 168 countries imported corn in 2000, 85% of which came from countries growing Bt corn. These countries have not reported any ill effects on human health and on the environment. A joint statement issued by the following organizations:
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