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General Information

Document type
  • Peer-reviewed journal article
GE organism
  • maize
GE trait
  • insect resistance
Country
  • USA

Results

Efficacy
  • positive effect
Safety for consumption
  • positive effect

Mycotoxin reduction in Bt corn: potential economic, health, and regulatory impacts

Wu, F
Transgenic Research. 2006 June. 15(3):277-289

Link to full text (journal may charge for access)

PMID: 16779644 DOI: 10.1007/s11248-005-5237-1 ISSN: 0962-8819

Abstract

Genetically modified (GM) Bt corn, through the pest protection that it confers, has lower levels of mycotoxins: toxic and carcinogenic chemicals produced as secondary metabolites of fungi that colonize crops. In some cases, the reduction of mycotoxins afforded by Bt corn is significant enough to have an economic impact, both in terms of domestic markets and international trade. In less developed countries where certain mycotoxins are significant contaminants of food, Bt corn adoption, by virtue of its mycotoxin reduction, may even improve human and animal health. This paper describes an integrated assessment model that analyzes the economic and health impacts of two mycotoxins in corn: fumonisin and aflatoxin. It was found that excessively strict standards of these two mycotoxins could result in global trade losses in the hundreds of millions US dollars annually, with the US, China, and Argentina suffering the greatest losses. The paper then discusses the evidence for Bt corn's lower levels of contamination of fumonisin and aflatoxin, and estimates economic impacts in the United States. A total benefit of Bt corn's reduction of fumonisin and aflatoxin in the US was estimated at 23 million dollars annually. Finally, the paper examines the potential policy impacts of Bt corn's mycotoxin reduction, on nations that are making a decision on whether to allow commercialization of this genetically modified crop.

Keywords

Bt corn, economic impacts, health impacts, mycotoxin reduction, regulatory policy

Funding

Funding source
  • Not reported
Funding country
  • Not reported
Funding type
  • Not reported

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Cite this study

MLA

Wu, F. "Mycotoxin reduction in Bt corn: potential economic, health, and regulatory impacts." Transgenic Research 15.3 (2006): 277-289. Web. 29 Mar. 2024.

APA

Wu, F. (2006). Mycotoxin reduction in Bt corn: potential economic, health, and regulatory impacts. Transgenic Research, 15(3), 277-289. doi:10.1007/s11248-005-5237-1

Please verify citations before use, citations are automatically generated based on information stored within the GENERA database and therefore may or may not be correct.