Contents - Faperta

Biotechnology, Pest Management, and the Environment: The Future 509
develop and standardize technology to detect such foods (Holst-Jensen, 2006). In addition,
a requirement to label approved genetically modifi ed food would necessitate a constant
monitoring system, and the cost of such monitoring will be formidable for many developing
countries. This will also take precious resources away from their main agenda of using
science for development. Future research efforts in this area should focus on:
• Biosafety regulations based on safety, quality, and effi cacy;
• Expanding procedures to assess allergy to encompass inhalants as well as allergy
to food;
• Establishment of reliable methods for detection and quantifi cation of genetically
modifi ed food; and
• Address the issue of food labeling in the unorganized sector, and ensure food
safety at the testing stage.
Conclusions
The products of biotechnology should be commercially viable, environmentally benign,
easy to use in diverse agroecosystems, and have a wide spectrum of activity against the target
insect pests, but be harmless to nontarget organisms. There is a need to pursue a management
strategy that takes into account the insect biology, insect plant interactions, and their
infl uence on the natural enemies. Emphasis should be placed on combining exotic genes
with conventional host plant resistance, and also with traits conferring resistance to other
insect pests and diseases of importance in the target region. It is important to follow the
biosafety regulations and make this technology available to farmers who cannot afford the
high cost of seeds and chemical pesticides. Use of biotechnological tools for diagnosis of
insect pests and their natural enemies, and for gaining an understanding of their population
genetics, behavior, and interactions with the host plant will provide a sound foundation
for pest management. There is a need to use genetic engineering to produce robust natural
enemies, and more stable and virulent strains of entomopathogenic bacteria, fungi, viruses,
protozoa, and nematodes for use in integrated pest management. Molecular makers can be
used for development of newer pesticide molecules with different modes of action, and
monitoring insect resistance to insecticides. Augmentation of conventional breeding with
the use of marker-assisted selection and transgenic plants promises to facilitate substantial
increases in food production. Rapid and cost-effective development and adoption of biotechnology-derived
products will depend on developing a full understanding of the interaction
of genes within their genomic environment, and with the environment in which
their conferred phenotype must interact for sustainable crop protection.
References
Atkinson, P.W. and O’Brochta, D.A. (1999). Genetic transformation of non-drosophilid insects by
transposable elements. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 92: 930–936.
Barton, K.A. and Miller, M.J. (1991). Insecticidal toxins in plants. EPA 0431829 A1 910612.