In response to Brian Tucker’s refute to Elton Wong, “You’re Incorrect, Wong,” I would like to offer a few suggestions to Mr. Tucker to set him straight. You ask why the EPA restricted the use of Bt corn for the 2000 growing season. I would like you to answer the question yourself because it is a very vague and generalized question. It sounds as if you mean all Bt corn is restricted because of the generalization. There are several types of Bt corn and hundreds of hybrids. Are you saying all of these are restricted, because a majority of them are not. The EPA will restrict a Bt hybrid if it hasn’t met all EPA regulations or if it is concerned about an insect other than corn borers gaining resistance in different geographical areas. The main reason Bt corn may be restricted is to make sure it is safe for consumption by humans and animals. The restrictions are to make sure new types and varieties are safe. Not all Bt corn is restricted.Second, you bring up the Monarch butterfly issue, which is, by now, a joke to the ag industry. When the testing was originally done at Cornell University (there was also a study released from Iowa State), it showed Bt corn pollen was harmful to Monarch caterpillars, but only one type of Bt pollen was tested. Additionally, the caterpillars were forced to eat pollen-dusted milkweed leaves. Studies have shown that Monarch caterpillars will avoid eating leaves covered with pollen. What is really at risk for the monarchs is a loss of habitat resulting from mowing ditches which takes out milkweed that larvae feed on. Ken Ostlie, a University of Minnesota entomologist says if Bt corn were a significant threat to monarchs, then it could be virtually eliminated by planting buffer rows along roadsides where milkweed is present. ISU entomologist Marlin Rice said in Soybean Digest that the potential for significant monarch mortality is “infinitely small” should they lay eggs on milkweed in or around Bt fields. Some Bt pollen has no effects on the monarch. Bt corn is almost safer for monarchs and people, because it eliminates the use of some of the deadliest pesticides.You also say corn borer can become resistant due to loss of biodiversity. In Bt cornfields, refuges are planted. A refuge is sections of the field that are planted in non-Bt, non-sprayed corn so that corn borers not exposed to Bt corn are allowed to cross with corn borers that are exposed to maintain a gene pool of susceptible corn borers. If the EPA sees farmers mismanaging refuges, they will revoke Bt registration.You say that lobbyists and corporations are more concerned about profits than safety. I believe this is also an incorrect statement. GM crops undergo rigorous testing from its developers as well as Government agencies like the USDA, FDA and the EPA. A famous case study is when Pioneer inserted a Brazilian nut gene into soybeans to increase the level of sulfur-rich amino acids. While the soy was intended for animal consumption and not human consumption, development was stopped when it was discovered that the nut protein was allergenic to humans—only because of safety checks. Perhaps some of these facts will help to clear up some misconceptions about GMOs.

Josh Lizer

Animal science