According to a report issued by Michael Gray, a professor of crop science at the University of Illinois pest problems are mounting as rootworm become more resistant to GM corn engineered to fight them and crop rotation methods. There have also been issues of resistance in Iowa but not to the level of concern as what has been seen in Illinois. Last year a separate group of academics warned the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that long-term crop production was worrisome because of instances of growing resistance of rootworm to GM corn.
Western corn rootworm is one of the most devastating rootworm species in North America. The larvae feed on the roots of the corn plant and dramatically cut production. Monsanto introduced GM corn in 2003 which contained the protein ‘Cry3Bb1’ which is supposed to reduce the need for insecticides.
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