On Oct 1 2011, 41 Swedish scientists holding grants from Vetenskapsrådet published a debate article in Dagens Nyheter, (http://www.dn.se/debatt/kvasivetenskap-hindrar-ett-hallbart-jord--och-skogsbruk). The text can also be downloaded here, an English version here.
Vetenskapsrådet supports basic science in all areas with granting decisions based solely on scientific excellence. 45 scientists (working within molecular biology, biochemistry biophysics, ecology, mathematic modeling etc.) hold for 2011 grants from Vetenskapsrådet for projects with main focus on plants and out of those, 41 signed. This means that 90 % of the leading plant scientists in Sweden claim that the basis of the EU legislation in this field – that the technique, not the properties of the plant determines whether or not a variety will be put under strict control or not - lacks support by scientific evidence and is instead based on quasi-scientific arguments. Therefore, the legislation must be changed to allow for findings in publicly funded basic plant research to be applied as environmentally friendly agriculture and forestry.
The publication resulted in many comments and follow-ups in national and international media, blogs etc. Below, we have collected links to the comments, both negative and positive.
So far, none of the negative responses have mentioned the issue discussed in the article – that scientific evidence calls for a change in legislation – but instead focused on
- the presumed links between us and commercial interests
- the potential problems with GMOs used in agriculture today
- a lack of trust in science in general
and do therefore not really connect to the message but theyare linked to here anyway to give an overview of the feelings that the article provoked.
Please inform
Radio:
Forskare: GMO-reglerna hämmar grön utveckling - Ekot | Sveriges RadioMotiverad kritik mot GMO - Ekot | Sveriges Radio
Scientists demand GMO for the environment - Sveriges Radio Europe/European Union
Editorials
Förlegad tekniksyn - DN.SE
Kyrkans Tidning
Newspapers
Forskare: Ändra reglerna för GMO | Lantbruk och Skogsland
Genmodifierade växter är på gång trots motstånd - Näringsliv - Kristianstadsbladet - Nyheter dygnet runt
Lantbruk | Upp till kamp för gmo | ATL - Lantbrukets Affärstidning
Others (blogs etc.)
Epsoweb http://www.epsoweb.org/
Quasi-science prevents an environmentally friendly agriculture and forestry | Forskarbloggen
41 svenska forskare... | Facebook
Bra rutet, ni 41! | vetenskapsbloggen
FRASSES BLOGG: GMO-förespråkarnas propaganda
För lite GMO i svenskt jordbruk? « Dyrare mat, NU!
Elsas klimatprat - Bloggosfären - UNT.se
Onaturlig genmanipulation bättre! « Lapsus Dei
41 Swedish plant scientists speak out against harmful EU regulation of modern plant genetics « Biofortified
41 Swedish scientists speak out for modern environmentally friendly agriculture
GMO-odling stör naturens mångfald
Ape reft of his tail
Lifsäväl: Kunschtdynga 7
GMO Pundit
Quasi-science prevents an environmentally friendly agriculture and forestry
Uppföljningen Dn inte publicerade