Two farmers plant com in adjacent fields. Com is a crop that uses wind pollination for reproduction. Farmer A uses a genetically modified (GM) variety that produces its own insecticide Farmer B uses a non-genetically modified (non-GM) variety. Both farmers use methods of farming that include irrigation and pesticides
How is the insect community in farmer A's field likely to be different from the insect community in Farmer B's field? Describe one positive and one negative consequence of this difference
Initially, which field is likely to produce less polluted runoff and why?
A local food processing company that uses only non-GM ingredients usually bus corn from farmer B. How could the location of farmer B crop undermine her ability to sell to this processor
The insect community in Farmer A's field is likely to be less diverse compared to Farmer B's field due to the presence of the GM variety producing its own insecticide. This could lead to a decrease in overall biodiversity in Farmer A's field, which may have negative consequences such as decreased pollination and natural pest control. On the positive side, Farmer A may experience lower pest damage to their crops, resulting in higher yields.
Initially, the runoff from Farmer B's field is likely to be less polluted as they are using non-GM varieties and may rely less on synthetic pesticides. This can result in lower levels of chemical runoff into nearby water sources, leading to less pollution and potential harm to aquatic ecosystems.
The location of Farmer B's crop could undermine her ability to sell to the local food processing company that uses only non-GM ingredients if there is a risk of cross-contamination from neighboring GM crops, such as Farmer A's field. If the non-GM crop becomes genetically contaminated with GM pollen, it may no longer meet the company's non-GM standards, resulting in a loss of business for Farmer B.