Are gmos killing the butterfly, honey bees and song birds?

Expert response from Community Manager

Moderator for GMOAnswers.com

Tuesday, 07/07/2015 10:03

Butterflies, honey bees and song birds are critical members of the agricultural ecosystem, in part because they serve as pollinators. A common saying among the agriculture community is "No Farmer, No Food." If we take a step back, a prerequisite statement might be "No Pollinators, No Plants." While there would certainly be edible plants and animals without farmers and agriculture, we would not be able to support a growing global population of pushing 9 billion without farming food crops. Similarly, while plants would exist without pollinators, a third of the edible food crops we enjoy today would not exist.

On GMO Answers, we often receive questions about pollinators, especially about honey bees and monarch butterflies. Learn more here:

Are GMOs contributing the death of bees?

Are GMOs contributing to the death of butterflies? 

Are herbicides responsible for the decline in monarch butterflies?

Does GM corn pollen affect bees?

You might also be interested in this Q&A from Best Food Facts, which addresses GMOs and the environment, including birds and biodiversity

If you have any additional questions, please ask.

Expert response from Community Manager

Moderator for GMOAnswers.com

Tuesday, 07/07/2015 10:03

Butterflies, honey bees and song birds are critical members of the agricultural ecosystem, in part because they serve as pollinators. A common saying among the agriculture community is "No Farmer, No Food." If we take a step back, a prerequisite statement might be "No Pollinators, No Plants." While there would certainly be edible plants and animals without farmers and agriculture, we would not be able to support a growing global population of pushing 9 billion without farming food crops. Similarly, while plants would exist without pollinators, a third of the edible food crops we enjoy today would not exist.

On GMO Answers, we often receive questions about pollinators, especially about honey bees and monarch butterflies. Learn more here:

Are GMOs contributing the death of bees?

Are GMOs contributing to the death of butterflies? 

Are herbicides responsible for the decline in monarch butterflies?

Does GM corn pollen affect bees?

You might also be interested in this Q&A from Best Food Facts, which addresses GMOs and the environment, including birds and biodiversity

If you have any additional questions, please ask.