Pest resistance[edit]
BT rice is modified to express the cryIA(b) gene of the bacillus thuringiensis bacterium.[18] The gene confers resistance to a variety of pests including the rice borer through the production of endotoxins. The Chinese Government is currently doing trials on insect resistant cultivars.[19] The benefit of this is that the farmers do not need to spray their crops with pesticides to control fungal, viral, or bacterial pathogens. In comparison, conventional rice is sprayed three to four times per growing season to control pests.[19] Other benefits include increased yield and revenue from crop cultivation.[18][20] China has approved the rice for large-scale use as of 2009.[20] India, Indonesia, and Philippines are expected to carry out cultivation of genetically modified rice in the future.[19] In a rat model, no adverse effects from Bt rice consumption were observed, supporting the safety of widespread use.[21]
China[edit]
The Chinese scientists state that human blood protein (HSA) produced in brown rice requires a lot of modified rice to be grown.[23] This raises environmental safety concerns about modified gene transfer during pollination. The Chinese scientists argue that this would not be a problem because rice is a self-pollinating crop, and their test showed less than 1% of the modified gene transfer in pollination.[23] They are still further studying the issue.