- GM cotton has been commercially grown in Australia since 1996.
- More than 99% of the cotton grown in Australia contains GM traits.
- Since the introduction of Bt cotton, there has been a 97% decrease in insecticide use since 1992.
Biotechnology refers to the use of cotton varieties with transgenic or genetically modified (GM) traits. GM cotton has been commercially grown in Australia since 1996 and more than 99% of the cotton grown in Australia contains GM traits. GM cotton plants are either herbicide-tolerant, resistant to the major caterpillar pest Helicoverpa spp., or both.
GM cotton that provides resistance to Helicoverpa spp. is known as Bt cotton. Bt cotton was developed using the common soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). Bt cotton produces proteins that are toxic to the specific Helicoverpa spp. pest when it eats the plant.
Bollgard 3® is the current Bt cotton grown…
