How could genes from genetically modified crops spread into wild plant populations?

Genes from genetically modified (GM) crops can spread into wild plant populations primarily through cross-pollination, a process where pollen is transferred from the flowers of one plant to the flowers of another.12

When GM crops are grown in proximity to wild relatives, pollen containing the inserted transgene can be carried by wind or by animal pollinators—such as bees, birds, and bats—to the flowers of wild plants. If the wild plant is successfully fertilized, the resulting seeds may carry the transgene, effectively introducing the modified genetic material into the wild population. This process of hybridization is a natural biological mechanism that increases genetic variety, but in the context of GM crops, it raises concerns regarding the unintended environmental spread of traits like herbicide resistance or insect toxicity.31245

To mitigate these risks, regulatory bodies oversee the environmental release of transgenic organisms to ensure that such gene flow is monitored and managed appropriately.5