Chemical sprays required to kill the aphids that transport most viruses would be reduced or eliminated. Viral protection has already been acheived in the crook neck squash and will reach growers of cantaloupes, watermelons, cucumbers, potatoes, tomatoes, lettuce and alfalfa by the year 2000. Put all these crops together with viral resistance and imagine the reduction in the overall chemical use in the farming environment, and the scaling back of other agricultural inputs because fewer acres will be necessary to plant. Like any products sold in highly competitive markets, today's fungicides, herbicides, insecticides and pesticides are better, safer and more environmentally sensitive than older versions. Even so, they sometimes pollute the air, soil and ground water when they blow or wash off plants.
Farmers recognize more than anyone that healthy growing environments define their future.
Thus, they always seek better ways to control weeds with the least toxic herbicides available that do not damage food crops. It will take years before biotechnology reveals enough secrets to develop non-chemical alternatives that can perform as well as farm chemicals do now. Therefore, it makes sense to make today's crop plants work in concert with today's best farm chemicals to require less volume or fewer applications. Biotech has already made possible crop plants that withstand specific farm chemicals while all the weeds around them die. These crops include corn, canola, cotton, soybeans and some vegetables and fruits.