Workshop Report : Regulatory and Public Policy Perspectives

RISKS TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIETY POSED BY RESISTANT PESTS Many general questions and observations were made concerning the risk of pests, especially insect pests to a crop containing a transgenic pesticide, e.g., the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxin. If pests cannot be controlled, food and fiber crops will be jeopardized and may negatively impact society throughout the world. As a result, farmers may choose to plant crops that require an increased use of fertilizers and pesticides, which may negatively impact soil conservation and water use by increasing the amount of chemical runoff. In addition, the hazards associated with mixing and loading pesticides should be considered. For example, if pests develop resistance to the Bt toxin transgenic crops, Bt microbial sprays will lose their effectiveness and Bt could be lost as a control measure. Growers faced with pests resistant to Bt would likely increase or return to the use of higher risk synthetic chemical pesticides. That will entail higher costs to growers, which would be passed on to consumers. A return to chemical pesticides is likely to be unfavorable to the environment and society in comparison to the use of Bt. DANIEL E. WUESTE Clemson University Clemson, SC Workshop Report: Regulatory and Public Policy Perspectives