`World's Top GM Firm Funding Institute Which Fired Whistleblower
February 15, 1999 - 0:0
LONDON The Scottish institute which dismissed a scientist after his research suggested potential risks from genetically modified (GM) crops, is receiving funding from the world's leading GM producer, a report said Sunday. British weekly newspaper the Mail on Sunday said that Monsanto, the giant U.S. chemicals and biotechnology corporation, had donated 140,000 pounds ($230,000, 199,000 euros) to the Rowett Institute in Aberdeen. Professor Arpad Pusztai of the Rowett Institute was suspended last August after proving that rats fed with genetically-engineered potatoes suffered health problems, including a weakened immune system.
On Friday, 20 scientists from 13 countries endorsed his findings as sound and condemned the attempt to gag his findings. Prime Minister Tony Blair's government promised that any new evidence would be examined thoroughly and quickly but rejected calls for a ban of up to five years on the commercial release of GM crops until more research is done. On Saturday, the Labor government tried to quell growing consumer concern, insisting there was no health risk from food products containing genetically modified ingredients on sale in Britain. The Mail on Sunday said that the funding from Monsanto a two-year grant ending this September had been given to the institute's dairy business group to carry out research into animal feed.
Meanwhile, as government links with the powerful GM industry came under scrutiny, another press report said that Monsanto and others had been offered millions of pounds of subsidies to encourage them to expand in Britain. The Independent on Sunday said that firms involved in GM foods had met government officials or ministers 81 times since Labor was elected. The newspaper said Monsanto was the recipient of a 1.5 million pound government aid package for a factory in Scotland, which extracts chemicals from seaweed.
Du Pont, the U.S.-based chemical multinational and genetic engineering pioneer, was said to have received almost 15 million pounds to encourage it to expand factories in the north east of England and northern Ireland. Both companies insisted the factories in question had nothing to do with genetic modification work. Prince Charles, meanwhile joined the debate, as his adviser on agriculture told the Sunday Mirror that the heir to the British throne wanted the government to slow down on the introduction of GM food.
Environmentalist Jonathon Porritt said: Because the whole thing is moving so fast, politicians have not had a chance to process it in the way in which they would like to. What he is very keen on is that there should be more engaged consideration, and decision-making should be slowed down in order to let people take stock of these new technologies.
(AFP)
On Friday, 20 scientists from 13 countries endorsed his findings as sound and condemned the attempt to gag his findings. Prime Minister Tony Blair's government promised that any new evidence would be examined thoroughly and quickly but rejected calls for a ban of up to five years on the commercial release of GM crops until more research is done. On Saturday, the Labor government tried to quell growing consumer concern, insisting there was no health risk from food products containing genetically modified ingredients on sale in Britain. The Mail on Sunday said that the funding from Monsanto a two-year grant ending this September had been given to the institute's dairy business group to carry out research into animal feed.
Meanwhile, as government links with the powerful GM industry came under scrutiny, another press report said that Monsanto and others had been offered millions of pounds of subsidies to encourage them to expand in Britain. The Independent on Sunday said that firms involved in GM foods had met government officials or ministers 81 times since Labor was elected. The newspaper said Monsanto was the recipient of a 1.5 million pound government aid package for a factory in Scotland, which extracts chemicals from seaweed.
Du Pont, the U.S.-based chemical multinational and genetic engineering pioneer, was said to have received almost 15 million pounds to encourage it to expand factories in the north east of England and northern Ireland. Both companies insisted the factories in question had nothing to do with genetic modification work. Prince Charles, meanwhile joined the debate, as his adviser on agriculture told the Sunday Mirror that the heir to the British throne wanted the government to slow down on the introduction of GM food.
Environmentalist Jonathon Porritt said: Because the whole thing is moving so fast, politicians have not had a chance to process it in the way in which they would like to. What he is very keen on is that there should be more engaged consideration, and decision-making should be slowed down in order to let people take stock of these new technologies.
(AFP)