Royal Society (Statement)

The Royal Society And GMOs

The Guardian's front page story today, 'Pro-GM food scientist threatened editor', contains serious errors of fact and interpretation.

• The Society is concerned to make sure so far as possible that, where relevant, public policy is informed by the best available scientific information. As the premier independent scientific body in the UK, it has a responsibility to undertake this role. It got involved in the Pusztai matter because it was disturbed that a one-sided debate was raging in the media on the back of unvalidated claims. The Royal Society does not have a 'rebuttal unit', and its aim is in no way 'to mould scientific and public opinion with a pro-biotech line'.
• The Society was in no way involved in 'trying to prevent publication of the Pusztai paper'. Indeed, it has consistently called for his data to be submitted for publication ever since Dr Pusztai first discussed his results on television. It reviewed such data as were available in May and stated then that no valid conclusions could be drawn from them. The Society's objection to the publication of the Ewen & Pusztai paper in the Lancet on 16 October was that the paper still contained speculative conclusions that were not substantiated by the experimental data presented.

  Publication in a journal of the Lancet's standing gives the paper an unwarranted authenticity.

• The Royal Society's policy on biotechnology remains as given in its publication of September 1998, Genetically Modified Plants for Food Use:

  "The use of GMOs has the potential to offer real benefits in agricultural practice, food quality, nutrition and health. There are, however, uncertainties about several aspects of GMOs. Continued research, ... with the results made openly available, is essential if these uncertainties are to be properly addressed, the risks understood and the full potential of the new technology made clear. All parties must appreciate the public's legitimate concerns."

• The Society was not party to any discussions between the editor of The Lancet and Professor Peter Lachmann.

The Royal Society is an independent academy promoting the natural and applied sciences. Founded in 1660, The Society has a dual role, as the UK academy of science, acting nationally or internationally, and as the provider of a broad range of services for the scientific community. It responds to individual demand with selection by merit, not by field. The Society's objectives are:

• To promote and recognise excellence in science and its application.

• To provide independent, authoritative advice, notably to UK Government, on science and engineering-related matters and to inform public debate, through studies, submissions and reports.
• To support and encourage research and its application, through research fellowships and grants to individual scientists, and to disseminate the results of research through meetings, lectures, exhibitions and publications.