Plant geneticist Kevin Folta: University of California-San Francisco teams with anti-biotech activists attacking independent scientists

UCSF x

The University of California at San Francisco has compiled a database of documents claimed to shine a bright light on the “industries that harm public health.” The database claims to house millions of documents from the tobacco, drug, and chemical industries.

Including tens of thousands of my emails.

kevin folta university of floridaI am a tenured professor at the University of Florida….My research has been funded almost solely by USDA, NSF and the Florida strawberry industry….But some people don’t like that I communicate about [crop biotechnology.]

So how did 20,000 of my private emails become part of UCSF’s Chemical Industry collection?

An activist group called USRTK requested my emails back in February 2015. The first thing I did was pick up the phone and call them. I spoke with Gary Ruskin, co-founder of the organization. I was glad to tell him whatever he wanted. He said, “I want the emails.”

If you visit the Industry Documents Library and search with my name, you’ll find 474 results presenting tens of thousands of my private emails….What you won’t find is anything illegal, unethical, or improper….

It is not just me. A growing cadre of public researchers have stepped into the discussion of biotechnology and its applications. The public tide is changing, and those bold enough to connect with the public have become unwilling targets of USRTK.

Read full, original article: UCSF’s Dangerous Targeting of Academic Researchers

{{ reviewsTotal }}{{ options.labels.singularReviewCountLabel }}
{{ reviewsTotal }}{{ options.labels.pluralReviewCountLabel }}
{{ options.labels.newReviewButton }}
{{ userData.canReview.message }}
screenshot at  pm

Are pesticide residues on food something to worry about?

In 1962, Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring drew attention to pesticides and their possible dangers to humans, birds, mammals and the ...
glp menu logo outlined

Newsletter Subscription

* indicates required
Email Lists
glp menu logo outlined

Get news on human & agricultural genetics and biotechnology delivered to your inbox.