Bt - more

[Bruce Walsh]

No one has posed the central question about BT corn.  SImply put, are more
leps killed by widespread use of BT corn (and hence no pesticides) or by
the continued use of pesticides.

Given that only larvae are potentially effected, and only LEP larvae (not
other insects), its clear that BT corn is FAR better than current
treatment for other insects and associated members of the foodchain.

It was be very sad indeed if a product that REDUCED the loss of leps due
to corn farming was kept off the market in favor of approaches that
(potentially) do far more damage.

When evnironment issues are concerned, it is often hard to take a step
back and logicaly explore issues, as there are extremistis on both sides
of the issue that tend to "sound-bite" it to death at the expensive of
purdent and logical approaches.

Peae

Bruce

Bruce Walsh
University of Arizona
(4 year member UA Biosafety committee)