Engineered Plants Produce Pheromones that Reduce the Need for Pesticides

An agricultural staple for enhancing crop growth? Pesticides.

Unfortunately, while these chemicals do help keep pests that would otherwise destroy crops away, they come with a significant limitation: their toxicity. Pesticides contain chemicals that are hazardous to the nearby soil and water, and even pose threats to humans. Finding more natural ways to keep pests away is more important than ever.

According to a team of researchers at the Earlham Institute and the Plant Molecular and Cell Biology Institute in Valencia, the ability to modify crops…