Contributions from Remote Sensing to Policy Development Related to Genetically Modified Crops in US Agriculture

In recent years, the use of Plant Incorporated Protectant (PIP) maize by American producers has been increasing dramatically. PIP maize contains genetically inserted traits that produce toxins in the plant that provide narrowly targeted protection against specific insect pests. The plant producing toxins can offer significant reductions in the application of broad-spectrum pesticides that have ecological and human health consequences. PIP maize as a percentage of total maize acreage planted in the US is expected to continue to increase as these protective traits are "stacked" with other desirable traits by seed companies, and producers are seeing considerable increases in yield as a result. The introduction of maize as a bio-fuel source for ethanol has increased production by over 6 million hectares in 2007. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), which is responsible for the registration of PIP crops under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, views the use of PIP maize as positive. Broad spectrum pesticide use has declined since the PIP traits have been introduced. As the agricultural landscape sees a higher percentage of maize acres using the PIP technology, the risk of the targeted insect pest populations developing resistance to the toxins, thereby rendering them useless will increase as well. This result would negate the effectiveness of the PIP maize traits and could reduce production of a US field maize crop valued at $33 billion dollars in 2006 and place US food and now energy security at risk.