Tracking the Agrichemical Industry Propaganda Network
by Stacy Malkan, U.S. Right to Know
propaganda: information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view.
Just four corporations now control three quarters of the global supply of seeds and pesticides. Public oversight of their activities is crucial for a safe and healthy food supply. Yet all of these companies – Monsanto/Bayer, DowDuPont, Syngenta/ChemChina and BASF – have documented histories of hiding the health risks and environmental impacts of their products. Since their records do not inspire trust, they often make use of third-party allies who promote the industry’s commercial and political agenda to the public, media, regulators and policy makers, while appearing to be acting independently of industry.
The public has a right to know about groups and people who collaborate with agrichemical corporations to push industry messaging and policy agendas. U.S. Right to Know has uncovered many documents that reveal, for the first time, how companies are working behind the scenes with academics, journalists and independent-sounding groups, in ways that are not disclosed to the public, to promote genetically engineered foods and pesticides and stave off regulations. The evidence is described in our fact sheets about key players in the agrichemical industry propaganda network:
Academics Review: The Making of a Monsanto Front Group
AgBioChatter: Where Corporations, Academics Plotted Strategy on GMOs, Pesticides
Alison Van Eenennaam: Key Outside Spokesperson and Lobbyist for the Agrichemical and GMO Industries
American Council on Science and Health is a Corporate Front Group
Biofortified Aids Chemical Industry PR & Lobbying Efforts
Center for Food Integrity Partners with Monsanto
Cornell Alliance for Science is a PR Campaign for the Agrichemical Industry Agenda
Drew Kershen: Agrichemical Industry Front Group Ringleader
Food Evolution GMO Documentary is a Propaganda Film
GMO Answers is a Crisis Management PR Tool for GMOs & Pesticides
Hank Campbell’s Maze of Monsanto-Loving Science Blogs
Henry I. Miller Dropped by Forbes for Monsanto Ghostwriting Scandal
Independent Women’s Forum: Koch-Funded Group Defends Pesticide, Oil, Tobacco Industries
International Food Information Council: How Big Food Spins Bad News
Jay Byrne: Meet the Man Behind the Monsanto PR Machine
Jon Entine, Genetic Literacy Project: Key Messengers for Monsanto, Bayer and the Chemical Industry
Keith Kloor: The Agrichemical Industry’s Favorite Writer
Kevin Folta’s Misleading and Deceptive Claims
Mark Lynas Promotes the Agrichemical Industry’s Commercial Agenda
Monsanto named these “industry partners” in 2015 PR Plan to Confront Glyphosate Cancer Ruling
Pamela Ronald’s ties to chemical industry front groups
SciBabe Says Eat Your Pesticides. But Who is Paying Her?
Science Media Centre Promotes Corporate Views of Science
Sense About Science/STATS Spin Science for Industry
Tamar Haspel Misleads Readers of the Washington Post
Val Giddings: Top Operative for the Agrichemical Industry
More fact sheets about key front groups, trade groups and PR writers:
BIO: biotech industry trade group
International Life Sciences Institute
International Dairy Association
International Farmers and Ranchers Alliance
Science fact sheets:
Aspartame: Decades of Science Point to Serious Health Risks
Aspartame Tied to Weight Gain, Increased Appetite, Obesity
Glyphosate: Health Concerns About Most Widely Used Pesticide
You can learn more about the findings of the U.S. Right to Know investigation here and see here for a list of global news coverage about our top findings. If you like our work, please consider donating here to keep the USRTK investigation cooking.
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