The Cornell Report - Industry Response

[Paul Cherubini]

WHAT THE BIOTECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY ORGANIZATION SAYS:

The Biotechnology Industry Organization, a Washington, D.C.-based group
representing more than 850 biotechnology companies, universities and
research centers, said that the Cornell study
needed further evaluation and context.

``Even if the reported results are validated, there are strong reasons
to believe they are not relevant to monarch caterpillars in the wild,''
the group said.

``Ongoing monitoring of Bt corn fields by companies since their
introduction [1996] further shows that very little pollen lands on
adjacent milkweed leaves. It is thus highly likely that in the natural
setting, outside the laboratory, most monarch larvae would never
encounter significant amounts of corn pollen. This means the real
potential for any negative impact is negligible,'' the industry group
said.

WHAT MONSANTO SAYS:

 The laboratory study in Nature provides interesting information, but
reflects a situation very different than that actually prevalent in the
natural environment.

Monarch larvae feed almost exclusively on milkweed. The natural habitat
for milkweed is prairies, fields and roadsides, not the middle of full
grown and pollinating corn fields. In real life situations, the exposure
of milkweed to corn pollen is very low because only a very small portion
of milkweed grows in close enough proximity to corn fields for exposure
to corn pollen. This information supports the conclusion of a very low
likelihood of effect of Bt pollen on non-target insects like the Monarch
butterfly in their natural habitats.

``The butterfly feeding was very controlled in this and not in a natural
setting. We feel that while this study is fine, far more research needs
to be done. The thing to remember is Bt is a very environmentally
beneficial product that reduces spraying,'' Steimel said. 

-- Over 40% of all chemical insecticides used in the United States are
used on cotton plants. Use of Bt insect-protected cotton has eliminated
the use of nearly 1 million gallons of broad spectrum chemical
insecticides since it was first commercially grown in 1996. (1996:
250,000+ gallons, 1997: 300,000 gallons, 1998: 300,000+ gallons)

 -- According to a University of Alabama study the adoption of Bt cotton
has reduced chemical insecticide use in their state to the lowest levels
in over 40 years since theintroduction of these chemical insecticides.

-- In 1998 use of Bt insect-protected corn reduced or eliminated the use
of broad spectrum chemical insecticides on some 15 million acres of U.S.
farmland.

 -- Farmers growing Bt insect-protected potatoes on nearly 40,000 acres
have reduced their chemical insecticides use by over 40%.

Paul Cherubini, Placerville, California