Research Topic · Peer-Reviewed

Bt Crops

Bt crops are genetically modified plants engineered to express insecticidal proteins derived from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis, conferring built-in resistance to specific insect pests. The introduced genes direct production of crystal (Cry) and related toxins that, when ingested by susceptible larvae, b…

Curated from this journal's research 📚 7 peer-reviewed articles cited Cited 77× across the literature 🔖 ISSN 2639-3166 🗓 Reviewed July 2026

Overview

Bt crops are genetically modified plants engineered to express insecticidal proteins derived from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis, conferring built-in resistance to specific insect pests. The introduced genes direct production of crystal (Cry) and related toxins that, when ingested by susceptible larvae, bind receptors in the insect midgut and disrupt its epithelium, killing the pest while sparing non-target organisms that lack the corresponding receptors. Adopted widely in crops such as cotton and maize, Bt traits reduce reliance on broad-spectrum chemical insecticides, with implications for yield protection, input costs, and farmer and environmental exposure. Within Agronomy Research, Bt crops sit at the intersection of crop improvement and the broader debate over genetically modified organisms, including the detection and monitoring of GM crops and assessment of their environmental impact, as in studies of cross-border GM-crop movement. Their adoption is also framed by the larger agenda of agricultural intensification and sustainability, encompassing the climate change, land degradation, and food-security nexus and the place of biotechnology among tools for raising productivity. Considerations of resistance management, refuge strategies, biosafety, and effects on non-target species accompany their deployment. As a scholarly topic, Bt crops integrate plant biotechnology, entomology, and agronomy to explain the engineering and mode of action of insect-resistant plants, their agricultural benefits, and the environmental, regulatory, and sustainability questions surrounding genetically modified pest control.

Research published in this journal

7 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.

How this research is being cited

The 7 articles above have been cited 77 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.

A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Bt Crops, linking to each citing work.

Editorial oversight

Curated from peer-reviewed research published in Agronomy Research (ISSN 2639-3166).

Journal editorial board
Mahmoud Mohamed Hesham Okasha · Italy Anita Maienza · Italy Rusu Teodor · Romania

This page summarises published research for orientation; it is not medical or professional advice.