The loss caused by the pink bollworm infestation has raised questions about the sustainability of GM cotton, which accounts for over 90% of all cotton grown in [India]. Bt cotton, as GM cotton is known, is the only commercialised GM crop in the country. Monsanto introduced its first-generation Bt cotton, called Bollgard I (BG-I) in 2002 and Bollgard II (BG-II) in 2006, the latter of which is still the de facto GM cotton variety.
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“Resistance is a natural and evolutionary adaptation of insects and pests to widely and continuously applied stress factors,” says a spokesperson for Monsanto Mahyco Biotech (MMB), a joint venture between Monsanto and Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company.
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Among the reasons for the rise in pink bollworm infestation area, according to the company, are use of unapproved Bt cotton, lack of planting of non-Bt crops next to Bt cotton and early planting and prolonging the life cycle of the plant.
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Some advocate abandoning Bt cotton for local varieties, even of the organic kind, which they say will reduce farmers’ dependence on companies.
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[G]iven that Bt cotton is certainly not cheap … those affected may not take the viability of Bt cotton for granted anymore.Read full, original post: These two issues could put the brakes on the Bt cotton story