"How Monsanto Mobilized Academics to Pen Articles Supporting GMOs"

"Monsanto Co.’s undisclosed recruitment of scientists from Harvard University, Cornell University and three other schools to write about the benefits of plant biotechnology is drawing fire from opponents.

The company’s role isn’t noted in the series of articles published in December by the Genetic Literacy Project, a nonprofit group that says its mission is 'to disentangle science from ideology.' The group said that such a disclosure isn’t necessary because the the company didn’t pay the authors and wasn’t involved in writing or editing the articles.
 
Monsanto says it’s in regular contact with public-sector scientists as it tries to 'elevate' public dialog on genetically modified organisms, or GMOs. U.S. Right to Know, a nonprofit group funded by the Organic Consumers Association that obtained e-mails under the Freedom of Information Act, says correspondence revealing Monsanto’s actions shows the 'corporate control of science and how compliant some academics are.'"

Jack Kaskey reports for Bloomberg October 2, 2015.