Monsanto, the 10th most innovative company, according to Forbes Magazine(2012), has engineered genetically modified corn, which is supposed to withstand and survive the attack of pests, but is reportedly succumbing to rootworms/beetles. It has been claimed for a long time by Monsanto that their GM seeds are resistant to such dangers but Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) says that there are a lot of farmers who are reporting the onset of root worms in their corn plants in spite of using Monsanto’s GM seeds.
Pest expert Bruce Potter of University of Minnesota, in an interview with MPR, said that they were not going to make this go away and that they were stuck with managing this problem. Potter himself has witnessed the damage inflicted by the rootworms in southern and western Minnesota. The rootworms are attacking the roots thus weakening the plants and as a result, they are getting toppled quite easily with even a minor breeze. What is most pathetic is the helplessness of the farmers. Potter opined that instead of making things easier, we just made corn rootworm management harder and a heck of a lot more expensive. These are the words that are ringing throughout the corn farming community. The only way they have left to get rid of this problem is to deprive the insects of their food (i.e. to start cultivating some other crop). But many are reluctant to start a new venture fearing further loss.
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