Food: The use of genetic modification – A public dialogue
Sciencewise-ERC has been advising on the development of a process for public dialogue by the Food Standards Agency on Food: The use of genetic modification – A public dialogue. In the development of the project, we have been working with the FSA on framing the dialogue and on the appointment of the dialogue contractor. Recent resignations from the Steering Group have led to media coverage, linked to below. Sciencewise-ERC maintains our commitment to public dialogue as a way forward. However, Sciencewise-ERC has determined that the FSA dialogue as currently planned no longer meets Sciencewise-ERC principles and has advised the FSA accordingly. Sciencewise-ERC is continuing to advise on how a well framed and conducted dialogue, in line with Sciencewise-ERC principles, could take place.
Details of this dialogue process can be found on the FSA project webpage.
Update
Letter of resignation of Helen Wallace from the Steering Group
Statement on resignation of Helen Wallace from the Steering Group
Letter of resignation of Brian Wynne from the Steering Group
Statement on resignation of Brian Wynne from the Steering Group
Letter from Soil Association and others to FSA Chair Jeff Rooker, 7 June
FSA Chair Jeff Rooker's letter to the Soil Association and others, 16 June
Illustrative coverage
BBC
Academic quits GM food committee
BBC Newsnight, 3 June 2010
“Susan Watts looks into what has been going on and whether the public discourse over GM foods is now in doubt.”
Includes interview with John Curtice and Helen Wallace
Available on BBC iPlayer till 10 June – from about 34mins 30 seconds
BBC Today Programme
Food agency 'promotes GM'
Today: Wednesday 2nd June
BBC, Farming Today, 8 June
A leading scientist who has quit his post at the Food Standards Agency explains why science alone can't decide whether GM foods should be developed. (Interview with Professor Brian Wynne)
Available on BBC iPlayer till 6am on 15 June. From about 9mins 30secs.
Telegraph
Academic resigns from FSA group over GM
GM public consultation has 'no credibility' - say campaigners
Caroline Spelman backs GM crops
Letters to Telegraph, Saturday 5th
The Food Standards Agency and the advocacy of genetically modified crops
Guardian
Academic resigns from UK food watchdog over 'GM propaganda'
GM lobby helped draw up crucial report on Britain's food supplies
GM food deserves better than this witch-hunt (Colin Blakemore)
Daily Mail - includes 'public' comments calling for FSA to be scrapped.
Advisers walk out in fury over £500,000 GM food PR exercise
Cynical sham that insults public
GM food and a sinister bid to twist public opinion
Halt the 'biased' GM review, minister told amid fears over emails linking biotech firms to FSA
Nature News
Without effective public engagement, there will be no synthetic biology in Europe, Colin Macilwain
Farmer's Guardian
GM debate fury after FSA blasts 'anti-science' culture
Welcoming debate
Sciencewise-ERC supports open discussion on the potential ways that the government, public, scientists, the media and NGOs can engage around complex, controversial issues. We recognise that much discussion and thinking around approaches is going on already. For example:
- The work of CRASSH and discussions at their conference on 28 May.
- The Royal Society.
- The Times Cheltenham Science Festival, asking the public what they think about topics and processes for engaging with policy involving science and technology.
- Sciencewise-ERC strategic research in which key issues are debated.
