Young Living Scientists Launch New Monarch Butterfly and Milkweed Research Project

In conjunction with National Start Seeing Monarchs Day on May 6, Young Living announces the launch of new monarch butterfly and milkweed research project. The effort comes after a longstanding dedication to pollinator conservation across the company's farms and facilities.

LEHI, UTAH MAY 01, 2023

Young Living, the world's leading provider of essential oils and oil-infused wellness products, announces a new research project on the relationship between the milkweed plant and monarch butterflies. The study will be conducted by Young Living Sr. Scientist Tyler Wilson and Young Living Research Scientist Emma Andrews, with additional help from Utah Valley University intern Samantha Ingram.

This project will take place at the Young Living Lavender Farm and Distillery in Mona, Utah, and the Skyrider Wilderness Ranch in Tabiona, Utah. Researchers will investigate the chemical profiles of different populations of showy milkweed (Asclepias speciosa), a key species monarch caterpillars depend on in the Intermountain Region. The launch of the research project is announced in conjunction with National Start Seeing Monarchs Day, a date dedicated to raising awareness and preventing this at-risk species from being added to the endangered species list.

“As stewards of the earth, we work to achieve our ambitious conservation, preservation, and restoration goals,” said Wilson. “We hope that the findings from our dedicated team of scientists will aid the larger scientific community in further conservation of the monarch butterfly.”

This new project will examine the different cardiac glycosides, or cardenolides, in milkweed, the pollinator’s source of food and protection from predators. Throughout the monarch migration, one of the project team members will collect data at one of the research locations. This data collection will include noting the number of butterflies, counting the number of eggs and larvae on the leaves, and taking leaf samples to determine cardenolide profiles. In the past, Young Living's efforts focused on butterfly conservation, with Young Living's farm teams implementing a program to plant milkweed at its farms and facilities across the country.

As summer nears and the butterflies begin to arrive, Young Living invites families to join in the excitement through educational tours at the Mona farm. Guests will learn more about pollinators, their ecosystems, and how they can grow a monarch waystation at home. A free downloadable kit with educational activities for children will be available in the coming months to extend the fun.

“We're always looking for ways to further connect people with nature,” said Wilson. “The farm tour and at-home activities create a unique full-circle experience and are a great way to make protecting our planet more accessible to children. We hope this will begin a lifelong respect for the earth and the creatures that inhabit it.”

Young Living Essential Oils, LC, based in Lehi, Utah, is the world leader in essential oils, offering the highest-quality oil-infused products available. Young Living takes its industry leadership seriously, setting the standard with its proprietary Seed to Seal® quality commitment. This guiding principle helps Young Living protect the planet and provide authentic products that its Brand Partners and Customers can feel confident using and sharing with friends and family. Young Living’s products—sourced from corporate-owned farms, partner farms, and other trusted suppliers—not only support a healthy lifestyle, but also provide opportunities for over 6 million global Brand Partners to find a sense of purpose and whole-life wellness by aligning their work with the Young Living values and passions. For more information, visit YoungLiving.com, follow @youngliving on Instagram, or like us on Facebook.

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