Monsanto has inserted information from Bt into cotton plants which enables them to produce proteins that minimize damage from these insects. As a result, the number of insecticide spray operations is greatly reduced. In 1998 in the United States alone, the use of Bollgard cotton allowed growers to eliminate the use of more than 1.1 million liters of chemical insecticides. In the cases of both insect-protected corn and cotton, reducing insecticide use creates important benefits for wildlife, for farm workers who might be exposed to hazardous insecticides and for beneficial insects which might incidentally be killed by broadcast applications of insecticides. Roundup is a highly effective and environmentally friendly herbicide with an extremely low mammalian toxicity.
Farmers typically use a variety of herbicides to control weeds in corn and soybeans.
In the United States, for example, more than 97 percent of the corn planted is treated with herbicides. The manufacture of these herbicides requires inputs of raw materials and energy, and using them creates opportunities for environmental damage including runoff into streams. The use of Roundup Ready corn and Roundup Ready soybeans enables growers to replace many of these herbicides. The use of Roundup Ready products also encourages adoption of CT farming methods. Farmers who might otherwise be using traditional-tillage techniques are encouraged to adopt CT because of a number of collateral benefits.