Beekeepers to IUCN: “Stop Genetic Engineering in Wild Species”
- beelifeeu
- 23 hours ago
- 1 min read
Ahead of the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi this October (9 – 13 October 2025), BeeLife has raised an urgent appeal to IUCN members: support Motion 133 and establish a moratorium on the genetic engineering of wild species.
Beekeepers warn that proposals to release genetically engineered plants and animals into natural ecosystems could destabilise biodiversity, undermine pollinators’ survival, and jeopardize the integrity of beekeeping products such as honey and pollen. “We have already seen the devastating consequences of poorly assessed technologies, like DDT and neonicotinoids damage, that lingers for decades,” our open letter states.
Once genetically modified organisms are released into the wild, their spread cannot be controlled or reversed. Pollinators may be among the first to suffer, with unknown impacts on bee health and behavior, while also becoming potential carriers of engineered genes.
The beekeeping community urges IUCN to show leadership and apply the precautionary principle: pause the release of genetically engineered organisms into the wild until their ecological, ethical, and legal implications are fully understood.
