Another study debunks GMOs and bees disappearance link myth

There have been numerous unsubstantiated media reports linking genetically modified (GM) crops to the disappearance of bees. The episode has come to be known as colony collapse disorder (CCD).

Before theories linking CCD to GM crops started swirling around, the National Geographic magazine ran an article entitled Mystery Bee Disappearances Sweeping U.S. The article is authoritative because it quoted known entomologists such as Maryann Frazier of Penn State University.

The article recalls that CCD dates back to 1896, not 1995 when the first genetically modified crop was commercialized. As to possible causes of CCD, the experts quoted in this article suspect that mites and poor management could’ve become virulent to the bees, and hence their disappearance.

Last week, I bumped onto an article entitled GMO Studies Fail to Produce Definitive Answers. The article reports a study, by Swiss’s Federal Environment Office experts, that found GM crops have nothing to do with bees’ disappearance. Actually, it went a step further to discount reports that genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have negative impact on worms, snails or fly larvae.

This report only reinforces findings contained in another study reported in the journal Science in September 2007. The study found that “…the production of specific insecticidal proteins from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) in crops to control targeted caterpillar pests and beetles does not pose a risk to honeybees.” I recall commenting on this article early this year. It’s encouraging more studies about this phenomenon are being done. They’re necessary because they’re shedding more light on this issue.