Independent? Global anti-biotech groups major funders of longterm ‘GMO Factor’ study

Organizers of the proposed $25 million ‘Factor GMO’ study announced this week, who claim they will maintain their independence by accepting no money linked to industry or anti-GMO activists, are working closely with anti-GMO activists to raise money–an apparent violation of the public pledge made by the group.

“The Global GMO Free Coalition welcomes the launch of the largest ever study on GMO and pesticide safety – Factor GMO. This is the type of study that should have been carried out on all GM foods before they were released into our food and feed supplies,” reads a post at the GMO Free Coaltion website.

The group, which seeks a ban on GMOs, announced it is working closely with a US-based GMO opponent, the Organic Consumers Association.

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Factor GMO announced at its launch that it will accept funds from all sources except the biotech industry. It is for this reason that the GGFC is launching a worldwide fundraising campaign starting today and lasting until April 2015.

The Global GMO Free Coalition aims to help Factor GMO to raise the required funds – $3 million before April 2015 – to include the full multi-generational arm needed to identify whether the GM maize variety studied and/or glyphosate and Roundup cause infertility or birth defects.

Please help fund the study here. (The Global GMO Free Coalition’s fiscal sponsor in the U.S., Organic Consumers Association (OCA), has enabled us to give tax deductions to U.S. funders).

Factor GMO organizers have so far refused to publicly reveal their donors. But this coordinated effort, which was publicly launched before the announcement of the study, suggests they are working hand-in-glove with anti-GMO groups from around the world. The GMO Free Global blog included comments from many of the world’s most notorious biotechnology opponents–people and organizations the Factor GMO group said on Tuesday would not be welcomed in funding or involvement in this project’s design, promotion or research.

Read full, original post: Global GMO Free Coalition Set to Help Fund World’s Largest GMO Safety Study