GeneWatch UK today welcomed the resignation of
Professor Brian Wynne from the Steering Group of the Food Standards Agency's
public dialogue 'Food: the use of GM' (1,2). In his resignation letter,
Professor Wynne expresses serious concerns about the role of the Food Standards
Agency (FSA) and its Director, former agriculture minister Lord Rooker, in
running the public dialogue.
Professor Wynne's resignation follows the resignation
of GeneWatch's Director, Dr Helen Wallace last week, when she revealed that one
of the short-listed contractors is also engaged in 'reputation management' for
the GM industry (3).
"A process that
was barely credible has become a farce", said Dr Wallace, "Taxpayers' money should not be wasted on a
PR exercise for the GM industry."
The
Notes for
Editors
(1) Professor Wynne's resignation letter is available
on: http://www.genewatch.org/uploads/f03c6d66a9b354535738483c1c3d49e4/Resignationletter31May10.doc
His resignation is reported in the Telegraph: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/7794313/Academic-resigns-from-FSA-group-over-GM.html
Brian Wynne was Vice Chair of the Steering Group and
is a leading expert on public
understanding of science. He is Professor of Science Studies
at
(2) The FSA's description of the GM dialogue is on: http://www.food.gov.uk/gmfoods/gm/gmdialogue/
(3) Dr Wallace's resignation letter is available on: http://www.genewatch.org/uploads/f03c6d66a9b354535738483c1c3d49e4/resignation.doc