Scientists' hidden links to the GM food giants: Disturbing truth behind official report that said UK should forge on with Frankenfoods

• Government advisory body presented an 'independent' report on Thursday
• It was used to support a bid to speed up the use of GM food in the UK
  
• But in fact all five authors have a vested interest in promoting GM crops
  

By SEAN POULTER and BEN SPENCER

PUBLISHED: 23:26 GMT, 14 March 2014 | UPDATED: 00:40 GMT, 15 March 2014

The authors of a study calling for GM crops to be fast-tracked into Britain’s farms and kitchens all have links to the industry, it can be revealed.

The report was presented as the work of ‘independent’ scientists and was published on Thursday by a government advisory body.

It was used to support a bid to speed up the development of the controversial crops in the UK, but it has emerged that all five authors have a vested interest in promoting GM crops and food – and some are part-funded by the industry.

Critics of GM last night described the report as ‘biased and downright dangerous’, and accused the biotech giants and the Government of mounting a crude propaganda campaign to overturn public opposition.

The academics behind the study were chosen by the Council for Science and Technology, the body that advises the Prime Minister on science policy issues.

In the report presented at a press conference on Thursday, no information was given about the five scientists beyond their names and the institutions they work for.

They include Professor Sir David Baulcombe, from Cambridge University, who works as a consultant for GM firm Syngenta, which gives his department research funding.

Syngenta is behind a genetically modified maize or corn, called GA21, which could go into UK farms as early as next spring, making it Britain’s first commercially grown GM crop.

Also on the list is Professor Jonathan Jones, of the Sainsbury Laboratory, which is at the centre of Britain’s GM research.  It is part-funded by former Labour science minister, Lord Sainsbury, who is one of the country’s biggest supporters of  the technology.

Another co-author was Professor Jim Dunwell, of the University of Reading. He was a founder member of CropGen, which describes its mission as ‘to make the case for GM crops and foods’.

The study suggested GM crops could save the hungry in the Third World from starvation and create new plants resistant to disease and pests.

FULL STORY: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2581387/Scientists-hidden-l...