Research on using funnel-web spider toxins in insecticides, which former University of Southern Queensland (USQ) staff member Ron Atkinson was involved in, is now being considered commercially in the USA for pest control in crops. The research, which began in 1989, involves adding the gene for a funnel-web toxin, which is potent against insects, to the genetic makeup of crop plants such as cotton. Dr Atkinson said this allows the plants to have an in-built defence against pests, and does not require chemical sprays.