I can't resist opening a good can of worms.

Actually quite a lot of cotton grown in North America is genetically engineered and produces a bacterial pesticide within itself, so it requires very little in the way of spray pesticides now.

However, given concerns about; quicker evolution of resistant insects due to how successfully the 'natural' bacterial pesticide works, large firms such as Monsanto having a virtual monopoly on specific crops (including cotton) due to the US patent system allowing patents of genes, introducing genetically modified plants into the eco-system at all, etc. You may still favour the other farming practices. ;)

Pro:

• Monsanto Press Release
• A Cotton Tale

Con:

• Sierra Club Biotech Articles

Edit kudra, 2002-05-27 closed unclosed list