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What effects do genetically engineered crops have on wildlife? |
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Genetically modified (GM) crops are often engineered so they are resistant to herbicides. This allows the farmer to spray the whole crop with strong herbicides and the GM crops are not affected.
It also means that all the flowering broad-leaved weeds that used to grow among the crops are killed. Wild life in the form of birds, bees, butterflies and insects used to come to these weeds and eat the seeds and sup the nectar and eat the leaves. Now they can't.
Some species of farmland birds of Western Europe are now only 10% of their numbers 30 years ago, and some have abandoned the farmlands altogether. Populations of bees and butterflies are also much lower in the GM fields.
First answer by Cobber43. Last edit by Cobber43. Contributor trust: 25 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 1 [recommend question]
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