Growers embraced technology incorporating genetically modified cotton cultivars with added genes conferring tolerance to lepidopteran pests and herbicides. In 1996, GM cotton was commercially planted for the first time in Mexico and five other nations. Since then, GM cotton has been marketed in 15 countries. In this article, let’s find about genetically modified cotton with Dugarco.
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1. What is genetically modified cotton?
Modern agricultural biotechnology relies heavily on genetic engineering (GE). GE techniques enable for exact modification of a plant’s features, resulting in properties that are not possible to achieve through regular plant breeding. Herbicide-tolerant (HT), insect-resistant (Bt), or “stacked” cultivars that combine HT and Bt traits are the three types of GE crops. HT crops can withstand one or more herbicides, giving farmers a wide range of alternatives for weed control that target weeds without harming crops. In 1995, GE cotton became commercially available in the United States, and adoption rates skyrocketed in the years that followed.
2. What is the famous genetically modified cotton today?
Nowadays, there are many kinds of genetically modified cotton developed in different countries
2.1. BT cotton from India
BT cotton is a pest-resistant plant cotton variant that releases an insecticide to battle bollworms after being genetically engineered. BT cotton, a genetically modified kind of cotton, was introduced to India about two decades ago to minimize farmers’ insecticide use. Professor Ian Plewis studies the impact of BT cotton on farmers’ pesticide spending, cotton yield, and income across Indian states using modern statistical methods. This cotton crop is a genetically modified cotton plant cultivar.
This genetically modified cotton is used by many eco friendly apparel manufacturers around the world. It is also well received and appreciated by many customers for its quality and environmental friendliness.
2.2. GM cotton from Mexico
Cotton domestication occurred simultaneously on multiple continents from indigenous cotton wild forebears, which is a unique trait. The species Gossypium hirsutum in Mexico, G. barbadense in Peru, G. arboretum in Sudan, and G. herbaceum in Pakistan all went through this simultaneous and convergent domestication process. The special qualities of cotton fiber, which are used to manufacture ropes and textiles, were discovered thousands of years ago in each of these four situations. G. hirsutum, sometimes known as Mexican cotton or highland cotton, is the most widely planted of these four species, accounting for 90% of global production.
2.3. GE cotton from the United States
Modern agricultural biotechnology relies heavily on genetic engineering (GE). GE techniques enable for exact modification of a plant’s features, resulting in properties that are not possible to achieve through regular plant breeding. Herbicide-tolerant (HT), insect-resistant (BT), or “stacked” cultivars that combine HT and Bt traits are the three types of GE crops. In 1995, GE cotton became commercially available in the United States, and adoption rates skyrocketed in the years that followed. During this time, the percentage of cotton acres planted with individual HT or BT traits decreased as growers shifted to stacked cultivars that carried both traits.
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3. Genetically modified cotton pros and cons
Now, let’s explore genetically modified cotton advantages and disadvantages
3.1. Advantages
Genetically modified cotton was commercially introduced in the United States in 1995, and adoption rates grew dramatically in the following years. Since 2000, genetically altered seeds have accounted for the bulk of cotton acres, rising from 61 percent in 2000 to 96 percent in 2020. During this time, the percentage of cotton acres planted with individual HT or BT traits decreased as growers shifted to stacked cultivars that carried both traits. In the year 2000, approximately 26% of total cotton acres were HT exclusively, 15% were BT solely, and 20% used stacked seeds. By 2020, 8% of acres would be HT-only, 5% would be BT-only, and 83 percent would employ stacked seeds.
3.2. Disadvantages
Besides the above advantages, genetically modified cotton disadvantages still exist
- Reduced insecticide use with genetically modified cotton has allowed secondary pests that aren’t targeted by the GM proteins to fill the void left by lepidopterans.
- In addition, because GM cotton can endure a larger variety of environmental circumstances than wild cotton, there is a possibility of regional overlap and gene transfer via ‘volunteer’ plants.
4. Impact of genetically modified cotton on industry
The below information will give you a deeper view of impacts of GMOs on industry
4.1. Bringing clarity on GMO testing methods for the organic cotton sector, from seed to shirt
While GMOs are prohibited in organic systems, organic does not imply complete immunity from contamination or the absence of GMOs in organic products. It’s a claim that GMOs aren’t utilized on purpose or intentionally, and that organic producers go to great lengths to prevent GMO contamination across the organic cotton value chain, from farmers to spinners to brands. Organic cotton stakeholders must be able to test their products for the presence of GM cotton in order to regulate this.
4.2. A first step into unifying the sector on GMO screening
With the current laboratories, the ISO IWA 32:2019 proficiency test initiative will continue; the joint initiative will be conducted on a regular basis. More laboratories are encouraged to apply for the next round of proficiency testing, which will be held once there is adequate demand. The ISO TC 34 / SC 16 / JWG 12 ‘Molecular biomarkers of agricultural fibers’ is now working on converting the ISO IWA 32 protocol to an International Standard. The working group includes GOTS, OCA, and Textile Exchange to guarantee that the organic cotton sector’s interests are reflected.
5. What is the problem with GMO cotton?
GMO cotton leads to many problems for the governments of some countries.
5.1. No new genetically modified cotton seeds
Concerns have been raised concerning the risk of GM cotton intermixing with natural wild cotton populations in the country’s south. These wild cultivars, on the other hand, are not found in the north, where most commercial cotton is grown. The permit denials have had a substantial impact on cotton planting in Mexico, as growers may now only use a few obsolete GM seed kinds that are incompatible with all growing locations and result in low yields and inadequate pest control.
5.2. The government applied a policy to ban the development of the cotton industry
The administration has chosen to restrict a genetically modified crop that has a proven track record of safety in Mexico. In fact, genetically modified cotton has proven so successful that ordinary cottonseed is no longer available in the country. In other words, if GM seed is disallowed, cotton producers will have no other option. Despite the fact that GM maize and GM soybeans are prohibited, farmers who grow these commodities have access to conventional hybrid seeds, which have enabled them to thrive. Due to the enormously lucrative volume of trade between the US and Mexico, the government’s decision to prohibit the importation of glyphosate, GM corn, and enhanced cotton seeds from the US has sparked a commercial war.
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6. Methods applied to develop the organic cotton industry
There are some methods to evolve the organic cotton industry now.
6.1. Analysis of the distribution of cotton species
The cotton-growing locations were identified, and a distribution model of wild G. hirsutum was created to assess the likelihood of gene flow. A classification tree was used to identify the environmental characteristics of these cotton-growing locations, including 19 current bioclimatic layers (Hijmans et al., 2005), 12 sun radiation layers (WorldClim), terrain slopes, and roughness index as variables.
6.2. Development of an ENM
They used a database built with 259 unique presence records of genetically modified cotton plots and 17 records of cotton volunteers reported by several volunteer monitoring campaigns carried out in cotton-growing regions to create ecological niche models (ENM) of two different scenarios of cultivated cotton (without volunteers and with volunteers). The analysis did not include records from plots in the Northeast region (Tamaulipas) since they were not available.
6.3. Survey of cotton farmers
Cotton farming in Mexico is often controlled by the landowner or the farmer who utilizes it, as well as a “technical adviser,” who is a skilled pest control crop advisor. A survey was devised and administered to 167 farmers in 20 towns in Mexico to examine their perceptions of the impacts of planting GM cotton. The survey’s goals were to determine parameters linked with the usage of GM cotton in Mexico, as well as farmers’ readiness to employ this biotechnology and their perceptions of benefits and concerns.
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6.4. Consult a technical advisor
A survey of 165 cotton-management-focused technical advisors was done. Shaw et al. (2009) did this study to see how GM crops with glyphosate tolerance affect people. Questions about pest management were also included.
6.5. The role of environmentally friendly manufacturers
Sustainable cotton producers can help with the transition to organic cotton. Farmers can transition to organic cotton due to good teamwork and a fair price. Farmers may assist promote the changeover to organic cotton by working together and paying a fair price. You may assist farmers in switching to ecological cotton crops by choosing sustainable products and organic cotton.
7. Is genetically modified cotton safe?
Cotton GMO plants are not harmful to human health or to farmers, according to various research. The issue is that toxic substances that are damaging to human health are still in use. GMOs favor unsustainable cotton cultivation and oppose organic cotton production.
Through this article, we hope you can get much knowledge about the genetically modified cotton industry, as well as their impacts and development efforts. From that, you can make a good decision when choosing the clothing fabric. In Vietnam, Dugarco is one of the famous clothing brands that provide environmentally friendly materials to customers. Please contact the information below.
Contact information:
- Address: No.59, Duc Giang Street, Duc Giang Ward, Long Bien Districts, Hanoi City, Vietnam
- Tel: 024 3655 7930
- Email: dugarco@mayducgiang.com.vn
- Website: https://dugarco.com/en/
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Dugarco under the talented leadership and guidance of Mr. Hoang Ve Dung has gradually become a large Vietnam clothing manufacturer, supplying clothes for many famous brands from many different countries such as the UK, USA, and Australia.
5 Responses
What is herbicide-resistant cotton?
Herbicide-resistant cotton is a type of GM cotton that has been engineered to resist certain herbicides, such as glyphosate. This allows farmers to use these herbicides to control weeds in their cotton fields without damaging the cotton plants.
What is Bt cotton?
Bt cotton is a type of GM cotton that has been engineered to produce a protein that is toxic to certain insect pests, such as the bollworm and the pink bollworm. These pests are major problems for cotton farmers, and Bt cotton can help to reduce their use of insecticides.
give me more negative effect of bt cotton