ARTICLE: Disease-resistant GMO tomato that could eliminate need for copper pesticides blocked by public fears

The following is an excerpt of an article on the Genetic Literacy Project about a new genetically engineered tomato that could help dramatically reduce pestide use. 

Some Florida tomato farmers spray copper-based pesticides up to 88 times per year in an effort to fend off bacterial spot, a devastating disease growers have been battling for over 60 years. A genetically engineered tomato resistant to the disease could cut that number to zero, while also doubling yields.

There’s only one problem: researchers have been unable to find a partner to help them commercialize the technology.

“Currently, given the climate around GMOs, no growers are willing to bite the bullet and take that first step,” said Sam Hutton, a tomato breeding and genetics professor at the University of Florida who has been involved in the project since 2010.

Scientists have tried for decades, with little success, to use conventional approaches to tackle the disease, which the Florida tomato industry spends almost $100 million each year trying to control. Researchers have simply been unable to find any tomato genes that express lasting resistance to bacterial spot. However, tomato’s cousin, sweet pepper, has several.  

The project, a collaboration between the 2Blades Foundation, the University of Florida and the University of California-Berkeley, inserted one of these sweet pepper genes, dubbed Bs2, into tomatoes using genetic engineering. Years of field trials have shown that the GE tomatoes are safe and effective, completely resisting the disease without the use of pesticides, and substantially increasing yields.

To read the entire article, please visit the Genetic Literacy Project.