The GLP aggregated and excerpted this blog/article to reflect the diversity of news, opinion and analysis.
Are these close, personal or research ties I need to disclose at every research seminar? You decide.
- Donation to outreach program that paid no salary or personal funds. Funds covered facility rental, plane tickets, coffee-doughnuts-sandwiches, etc. for participants in a science communications workshop. All funds have now been moved from the communications program to a campus charity.
- ONE reimbursed travel event. Monsanto requested that Folta speak at a farm event in Colorado. This is normal, but there are no funds to support Folta’s travel, so it is customary for the company to pay that amount. A total of approximately $600 covered hotel, airfare and other costs. No honorarium or speaker fees were provided.
- TWO non-reimbursed visits to the Company. He visited at the request of an employee that met Folta at a separate event in May, 2014. No funding was provided for travel. A hotel was provided one night in 2014. Meals were provided, two in 2014, one in 2015. A company employee paid for coffee in 2015.
- Friends in the company. Former students, colleagues, other scientists who keep in contact with Folta work at this company. This is not unexpected for professionals that work in agricultural sciences.
- Folta hosted Dr. Robb Fraley, Monsanto’s Chief Technology Officer, visit to UF as part of a series of high-profile visitors associated with ag biotechnology.
- Email. Several dozen emails related to the events above.
- Mints and Lip Balm. Folta did take complimentary mints and lip balm from the Monsanto booth at a trade show.
It is difficult to understand how this normal, professional, and minor interaction can be interpreted as “close ties”. However, these words continue to emerge in the press, and falsely portray the relationship, which was professional, and part of the job of a Land Grant department chair.
Read full, original post: What are “Close Ties” to Monsanto? A FAQ.
