Rense: Monsanto Writes GM Panel's Report! - Top Scientist Quits

[Guest guest]

Sigh... Yet another example of big business's questionable

objectivity, honesty and integrity...

Just more proof that we need to think and question for ourselves!

Other comments?

Misty L. Trepke

http://www..com

 

 

GM Inquiry Exposed As Top Scientist Quits

By Sean Poulter

The Daily Mail - UK

7-24-3

 

 

A key member of the Government's GM Science Review has dramatically

quit. Dr Carlo Leifert, professor of ecological agriculture at the

University of Newcastle, resigned amid claims that the panel was

hijacked by biotech supporters.

 

It is dominated by scientists either employed by biotech giants such

as Monsanto and Syngenta or dependent on them for goodwill or funds.

 

An insider said Dr Leifert was frustrated by the pro-GM bias and

quit after an executive of a biotech giant was asked to draw up the

panel's conclusions.

 

Dr Andrew Cockburn, a director of Monsanto, was asked to write the

first draft of the report. The GM Science Review was set up by Blair to tell the British public whether or not biotech crops and

food were safe.

 

It is chaired by Mr Blair's scientific adviser, Professor David

King. But there are concerns that its conclusions, to be published

today, cannot be trusted.

 

The insider said: " The panel refused to critically evaluate what the

problems with GM might be. Whenever issues arose, they were brushed

aside. The pro-GM people would get up and say those who make these

criticisms are not proper scientists.

 

" Carlo was put under an awful lot of pressure for pointing out gaps

in the GM food and crop safety approvals process - for example,

failure to check for certain types of allergens.

 

" Whenever the information being examined appeared critical of GM, it

was just rubbished. When the man from Monsanto was chosen to write

the first science panel draft, that was too much for Carlo. "

 

Dr Leifert, head of the Tesco Centre for Agriculture, has refused to

discuss his resignation.

 

But the insider said: " The panel had made up its mind before it sat

down. They were trying to find reasons to say to the public, 'You

don't need to be worried about GM'. When Carlo realised that, he

decided it was impossible to put his name to its report. "

 

The revelations are highly embarrassing for the Government. The

source said the problem was that the scientists who understand GM

are too close to the biotech companies who fund research.

 

" Too many molecular biologists depend directly on biotech companies

for their funding or goodwill. Consequently, it is very difficult

for those scientists who really understand the issues to be

critical.

 

" Carlo complained about biotech companies being on the science panel

because of the risk they would intimidate the others. They have

dominated the panel. "

 

As well as Dr Cockburn, the panel included Dr Simon Bright, head of

European genomics at Syngenta. Other GM enthusiasts included

Professor Chris Leaver, head of plant sciences at Oxford University,

Dr Mike Gale and Professor Philip Dale, both of the John Innes

Research Centre in Norwich, and Professor Mike Gasson, of the

Institute of Food Research in > Norwich.

 

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