Impact of GMOs on the beekeeping sector: Still neglected in research, widely ignored in regulation, untapped potential for monitoring

Beekeepers around the world have pointed out considerable deficits in assessing the implications of GMO cultivation for beekeeping and in maintaining the conditions for GMO-free honey production. Since the foraging range of bees encompasses several kilometres, bees and bee products are uniquely susceptible to exposure from GMO crops. There are clear regulatory requirements to assure the possibility for the production of GMO free honey as well as the need for GMO registers and proper monitoring. It is proposed here to considerably expand the use of bee keeping to contribute to GMO monitoring. A global database of gene flow could easily be established and maintained in partnership between the scientific community and the honey sector, which already analyzes honey on a regular basis for GMO content and has a vested interest in maps indicating high or low risk of contamination.