Unit 2
Pest-Resistant Crops
Farming today faces heavy damage to corn crops caused by microscopic fungi and a variety of insect pests. Until recently, farmers often made use of chemical pesticides to control crop disease. But today, farmers and scientists are turning to other eco-friendly ways to reduce the damage by developing pest-resistant crops through genetic engineering. This process involves altering the corn plant’s makeup that controls its appearance and how it functions. Genetically engineered pest-resistant corn has an advantage over conventional corn plants resulting in higher crop yields. But there are some concerns that these crops may reproduce with conventional plants and damage the balance of plants in the field.
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