Most corn in the world is grown to feed animals. However, insects, weeds, and disease reduce yields. One of the most devastating pests is a worm which eats the roots of corn cause the plant to fall over. Now scientists have found a unique solution to the problem–Oregano!

Years ago I was involved in agricultural biotechnology and my research group added various genes from a microbe (as describe in my book, Healing the Rift) to fight corn rootworm and many other pests and aiding other crops. Scientist now have discovered that originally corn made a chemical when its roots were attacked which attracted microscopic worms to attack the worm eating the corn. However, with the focus on high yields and not knowing the gene which made this chemical corn has lost this ability–until now.

Oregano has such a gene and it has been engineered into corn plants to resist corn rootworm.

Photographer: Christina Pedrazzini/SPL Getty Royalty Free Image

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