GM crops are being cultivated for the last 15 years in many countries and culminating in the last year, GM crops were planted in more than 1 billion hectares (b ha) by nearly 15 million farmers. In India, about 6.3 million farmers cultivated Bt cotton last year (http://www.isaaa.org) in more than 9 million hectares (m ha) for protection against the ravages of the most devastating cotton pest, the American bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera.

Studies to understand the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) resistance mechanism in European corn borer (ECB, Ostrinia nubilalis) suggest that resistance may be due to changes in the midgut-specific Bt toxin receptor. In this study, we identified 10 aminopeptidase-like genes, which have previously been identified as putative Bt toxin receptors in other insects and examined their expression in relation to Cry1Ab toxicity and resistance.

The filamentous ascomycetous fungi Trichoderma spp. are agriculturally and industrially important, being the major source of many commercial enzymes and as biofungicides. More than 60% of all registered biofungicides used for plant disease control are Trichoderma-based. Mycoparasitism, wherein one fungus directly kills and obtain nutrients from other fungi is considered to be one of the most important mechanisms of biocontrol. 

Indian agriculture has been under stress quite for long time. Decline in public investment, poor extension net work, lack of marketing facilities, erratic input supply and others have all collectively contributed for decline or stagnant in Indian agriculture. Increasing use of synthetic inputs and non-judicial use of natural resources including land and water have also added the problem only to become worse. Now, there has been consistent attempt to either reduce the chemical inputs or stop its use in agriculture for promoting sustainable agriculture system.

Flat yields for five years and rising insecticide use are jeopardising the success of Bt cotton technology.

Technological advances remove basis for government oversight of genetically modified crops.

http://www.nature.com/news/2011/110720/full/475274a.html

It is time to update decades-old regulation of genetically engineered crops. (Editorial)

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v475/n7356/full/475265b.html

Agronomic intensification has transformed many agricultural landscapes into expansive monocultures with little natural habitat. A pervasive concern is that such landscape simplification results in an increase in insect pest pressure, and thus an increased need for insecticides.