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Answers

Question

Is it ethical, and why is it necessary, for an industry that claims to be based on science to be so active in PR campaigns to persuade the public to accept their science? Isn't solid science based on objectivity and neutrality, not corporate interest and marketing?

Submitted by: gmosrock


Answer

Expert response from Cathleen Enright

Former Executive Director of the Council for Biotechnology Information

Saturday, 24/08/2013 12:33

Thanks for your questions. I answered them in reverse order.

 

We launched GMO Answers to provide one place where anyone could find information or ask questions about GMOs. Some of the information is ours―for example, the facts that are presented in our Explore the Basics section. However, you’ll also see reference to peer-reviewed “solid science” and answers from independent, third-party experts in response to the scientific questions we are being asked.

 

We aren’t trying to persuade visitors about the science, but instead want to enable visitors to make up their own minds about GMOs.

 

Why is GMO Answers necessary? From my perspective, for two reasons: In the United States, for about three years now, the conversation about GMOs has been elevated to a national level, due to what we believe is the spreading of unfounded fears and misinformation about GMOs. During this time, the conversation about our GM seeds, and the crops and food grown and made from them, was going on without us. We wanted our voice to be heard. In addition, we had been asked frequently about whether there was one place folks could go to read differing opinions about GMOs. The Ask Your Question section is a feast for the eyes in this regard.

 

Is it ethical? I believe any time someone provides, in good faith, cited and credible information about an issue, whether or not he or she is invested in the issue, it is ethical. But, in the spirit of GMO Answers, I ask you to make up your own mind about this.