No one likes coming across pests at home, even ones that look pretty harmless. But imagine your home is a farm that grows rows and rows of food for Canadians – and the pest you’re dealing with is targeting them.
That’s the reality a lot of farmers, like Chris Renwick and his family, have to deal with to keep producing healthy, affordable crops.
Canadian farms are a magnet for this pest
The European corn borer is just one pest that’s made appearances on the Renwicks’ farm in the past. The pesky caterpillar is also called the European corn worm and European high-flyer. Unsurprisingly, it goes after corn, other grains, and even potatoes if there isn’t enough corn around.
Just like termites that can quietly undermine a home’s structure, the corn borer can cause massive damage to crop yields. They can enter the ear of the corn, damaging it so much that it can’t be sold. They can also damage corn stalks, preventing nutrients from being delivered properly. Plus, they can attract birds, who cause even more damage to the corn.
All of that can spell major trouble for Canadians’ food supply and farmers’ livelihoods. And you thought the spiders in your basement were annoying.
Quick Fact
Plant science is the study of any plant system. It includes innovations to develop stronger, healthier crops and protect them from insects, weeds and diseases. In a nutshell, plant science allows farmers to sustainably grow healthy food, so it can reach more Canadian tables and drive growth for our whole economy.
Plant science vs. the corn borer: this time it’s personal
The Renwicks are super vigilant about their crops, constantly monitoring their fields to tackle any problems as soon as they come up.
When it comes to the corn borer, plant science is also a big part of the solution. Specifically, they use genetically modified crops, such as Bt corn, which is bred to prevent pests from destroying it. “It helps to keep the quality of the corn better,” Chris says.
Crops like Bt corn are bred with built-in protection. It works like this. Just like we have genes, plants have unique characteristics from their lineage. With modern science, we can better understand those characteristics and then add or enhance good characteristics or remove bad ones. There are a lot of tools to do it, from traditional plant breeding to genome sequencing to genetic engineering and gene editing tools.
In the case of corn, scientists incorporate the gene from a specific soil bacterium into the corn plants that lets them produce a protein that causes the corn borer to stop feeding and die. At the same time, the enhanced corn has the potential to control other pests while still being harmless to humans and other animals.[1]
Keeping food sustainable
The Renwicks’ corn borer-free farm is proof of the power of plant science.
They’re not alone, either. Today, plenty of farmers across the country are embracing plant science. In fact, 90 per cent of corn, soybeans and canola planted in Canada has been modified to stand up to pests.
Genetically modified crops are actually among the fastest-growing agricultural technologies in history. The reason? They let farmers take on problems like the corn borer sustainably.
GM crops, by the numbers
Think about this. Without plant science, including biotech crops, we’d need 50 per cent more land to grow the same amount of food as we do today. For a canola farmer, it’d actually be a whopping 91 per cent more land than they use now – or 14 million football fields of space.
Also, without science like biotech crops, Canadians would pay 55 per cent more for their food. In fact, the average Canadian household can save over $4,000 on their food costs every single year.
Genetically modified crops are also safe and have been rigorously tested around the world. As Chris points out, here at home, genetically modified crops like his corn are regulated by both Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. “We feel that…the science that’s behind it gives us the confidence to understand that it’s safe when it enters our food system,” he says.
“I know that the products that are on our store shelves, that are grown by Canadian farmers, are safe,” Rachel adds. “They’re safe for my family, and they’re safe for every Canadian family.”
So, next time you’re going to war with insects at home, remember that Canadian farmers are battling it out in their fields, too. And they’re winning, thanks to plant science.
[1] Source: OMAFRA http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/facts/97-019.htm#Insect-Resistant