Kevin Folta proposes new standard for transparency between industry and academia

The GLP aggregated and excerpted this blog/article to reflect the diversity of news, opinion and analysis.

Over the last six weeks I’ve been caught in the hot whirlwind of what has ballooned into a national discussion. The central mistake was underestimating the importance of a donation from Monsanto to my science communication program, and its perception with the public.

In my efforts, I have been more transparent than just about anyone else in the GMO dialog. My public presentations are online, and I freely provide any references. I have followed every convention for proper disclosure and conflict of interest.  That is not a question.

However, even with this openness, I’m going to propose that full disclosure isn’t enough. Disclosure needs move beyond appropriate, and now be impeccably clear and obvious. Omission impossible.

It starts with me. I have gone back into my records for over two years and now provide a complete accounting of my outreach and extension activities. You’ll find how much I was reimbursed for airfare, and who bought the dinner. The painstaking detail is necessary, and I think defines a new standard of transparency and a new tool to cultivate trust. You can download the information here. While it is not complete yet, the main ideas are there, and it will be completed soon and updated at least bi-monthly. This is my promise, and a new transparency standard.

Let’s encourage all players in the current public discussion of genetic engineering to reach a similar level of honest openness.

Putting all of my information into public space is strangely freeing, as now others might stop sleuthing for clandestine influence, and join me in focusing on how we are going to solve problems in agriculture and global food security.

Read full, original post: Setting A New Standard For Science Transparency

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