How do Bt crops reduce the use of some chemical insecticides?

Bt crops reduce the reliance on chemical insecticides because they are genetically engineered to produce their own Bt toxin internally. By expressing these bacterial proteins, the plants become inherently toxic to specific herbivorous insect pests, such as the corn borer, corn rootworm, and various bollworms.12

Because the crops provide built-in protection against these targeted pests, farmers can decrease the frequency and volume of conventional insecticide sprays. For instance, the introduction of Bt corn led to a reduction of approximately one-third in the application of conventional pesticides used to control the European corn borer.12

Unlike broad-spectrum chemical insecticides that can harm beneficial insects and pollinators, the Bt protein is highly target-specific, making it a valuable tool in integrated pest management strategies. However, because Bt crops only protect against a narrow range of insects, additional chemical treatments may still be necessary to manage other pest populations.1