What is Bt Cotton and Why is it Being Used?
Bt Cotton is a genetically engineered form of the cotton plant, in which one or two genes are taken from the bacterium Bacillus Thurgingienesis and are then put into the cotton plant, either by injection or by an agrobacterium. The goal in creating Bt Cotton was to prevent the extreme use of insecticides and pesticides, as cotton is highly susceptible to pests and insects, specifically the Bollworm. Each year, it is estimated that Bollworms are responsible for 50-60% of loss in cotton yield. The introduction of Bt cotton has reduced the amount of pesticides and insecticides that are used, and the amount of cotton yield lost each year.
(Science Behind Bt Cotton. (n.d.))
(Science Behind Bt Cotton. (n.d.))