Monarch Butterflies & Bt Corn

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"We want to make sure that the monarch is protected, and we want to verify the belief of numerous scientists that Bt pollen is not putting the monarchs at significant risk." -- Val Giddings, BIO

Studies & Research

Absence of toxicity of Bacillus thuringiensis pollen to black swallowtails under field conditions
Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences - Vol. 97, Issue 14, 7700-7703, July 5, 2000
Monarch Butterfly Research Symposium
Archived Webcast of the November 2, 1999 event, hosted by the Agricultural Biotechnology Stewardship Working Group (ABSWG) to announce the results of field research into the question "Does the pollen from genetically improved corn -- also known Bt pollen -- affect the Monarch butterfly in nature?"

In the News

Monarch Butterfly So Far Not Imperiled
Gene-Altered Corn Gets an Early OK in Studies by Peter Kendall, Chicago Tribune, November 2, 1999
Bt corn reduces fungi threat (Iowa States Press Release)
Tom Turpin's Letter to the Indianapolis Star:
"First, if the monarch is declining in numbers, it is partly because milkweed has declined. More important to the issue at hand, if there are few milkweeds in and around ornfields, there is little danger that pollen from Bt corn will fall on milkweeds and harm monarchs."

Backgrounders, Press Releases & Other Resources
Backgrounder on Monarch Butterflies and Bt Corn

Scientific Symposium To Show No Harm to Monarch Butterfly (November 2, 1999)
U.S. Experts Conducting Monarch Butterfly Research (August 13, 1999)
Academic Researchers and Industry Agree Reports on Bt Crop Impact on Monarch Butterflies Overblown (June 10, 1999)
BIO's Val Giddings Speaks on NPR (May 21, 1999)
BIO Responds To Nature Report On Threat To Monarch Butterflies (May 19, 1999)

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