A perfectly formed ear of corn, not a kernel damaged. Resists its natural pest, as well as the herbicide meant for the weeds. Needs little caretaking. Yield is higher than usual. Why not?
Things that we had used to only dream about have been materializing since recombinant DNA technology has been used in a multitude of fields: agriculture, industries, pharmaceutical, environment, etc. Here in the Philippines, the fruits of recombinant DNA technology have been demonstrated by the success of the Bt corn.
Bt corn is every corn grower’s dream come true. Genetically modified with a gene from the bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis, Bt corn is able to resist the European corn borer, Ostria nubilalis, its main foe. Corn farmers from Lagao, Pangasinan claims that they had always been troubled by this pest before they tried planting Bt corn. Large portions of the yield were lost because of the damages inflicted by the corn borers. Since they planted Bt corn, the farmers have been harvesting an average of 132 sacks of corn ears, a far cry from the 80 sacks of ordinary corn.
Aside from increased yield, another perk of Bt corn is little management. Bt corn is also herbicide resistant, so it is saved from the effects of the herbicide applied on the surrounding weeds. Farmers are now spared from longer exposure to the herbicide, which poses a threat to their health. With less application of herbicide, pollution and depletion of the nutrients of the soil are prevented.
Despite the benefits of the Bt corn, some people still attack its integrity as a food crop. The video shows footages of militant groups uprooting Bt corn plants. Issues hurled at the Bt corn range from moral – tampering with God’s creation; to social – growth of Bt corn plants into “superweeds”, and allergic reactions in human consumers.
Caution is all right, but there is actually nothing to fear about the Bt corn. Along with other genetically modified crops in the country, the corn was first tested by the National Committee on Biosafety of the Philippines, the local governing body on biotechnology, before releasing it on the public.
Recombinant DNA technology is still in its birth in the country, and those issues are its birth pains. Soon, people will come to accept it. Bt corn is a major aid to our economy, a Third World country that we are. It would be unwise to disregard something as favorable as this
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