Commercialized transgenic crops maintain the present reliance on pesticides to control crop pests. This pest-management regime relies on suppressing pest populations by exposing them to toxic materials and taking measures to minimize negative health and environmental externalities. An alternative is to develop a new generation of GM crops designed along agro-ecological principles, for instance by improving a plant's tolerance of pest damage. This approach potentially has substantial benefits, including decreased environmental impact, reduced opportunities for pest resistance, and an enhancement of the reputation of the agricultural biotechnology industry.