New report reveals the interests of the scientists-turned-lobbyists who stand to benefit from deregulation

A large number of European scientists active in agricultural biotechnology research who are actively lobbying for deregulating new gene editing techniques have direct or indirect vested interests in the marketing of plants derived from those techniques, through patents, patent applications, or links with the seed industry. This is revealed today by a new report commissioned by the Greens/EFA in the European Parliament: “Behind the smokescreen: Vested interests of EU scientists lobbying for GMO deregulation”.

The report is written by GMWatch co-director Claire Robinson but represents a team effort by a group of researchers and editors.

Background

On 25 July 2018 the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that all products derived from new GM techniques like CRISPR are GMOs and have to be regulated as such. Since then, an accelerated lobbying campaign by the GMO industry and its allies has taken aim at these EU regulations. The goal of the lobbyists is to persuade European policymakers to allow the commercialisation of gene-edited plants and animals without limiting safety checks, traceability, or labelling.