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==Conflict of interest allegations==
==Conflict of interest allegations==
In early February 2015, the nonprofit organization US Right to Know filed a [[Freedom of Information Act]] request against the University of Florida, on the basis that the organization suspected that Folta may have been pressured into claiming that GMOs are safe by food and agricultural companies.<ref name=wired/> According to an article in ''[[Nature (journal)|Nature]]'', in August 2015, the investigation began to produce documents which indicated that he had not committed [[scientific misconduct]], but revealed that he had close ties to [[Monsanto]] and other biotechnology interests and that he had received a unrestricted $25,000 grant from Monsanto to be used "at your discretion in support of your research and outreach projects".<ref name=nature/> Folta responded to this article by denying the article's claims that he had "close ties" to Monsanto.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2015/08/14/researcher-finds-himself-center-battle-over-gmos-and-corporate-support | title=Casualty of GMO Wars | work=Inside Higher Education | date=14 August 2015 | accessdate=5 September 2015 | author=Flaherty, Colleen}}</ref>
In early February 2015, the nonprofit organization US Right to Know filed a [[Freedom of Information Act]] request against the University of Florida, on the basis that the organization suspected that Folta may have been pressured into claiming that GMOs are safe by food and agricultural companies.<ref name=wired/> According to an article in ''[[Nature (journal)|Nature]]'', in August 2015, the investigation began to produce documents which indicated that he had not committed [[scientific misconduct]], but revealed that he had close ties to [[Monsanto]] and other biotechnology interests and that he had received a unrestricted $25,000 grant from Monsanto to be used "at your discretion in support of your research and outreach projects".<ref name=nature/> Folta responded to this article by denying the article's claims that he had "close ties" to Monsanto.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2015/08/14/researcher-finds-himself-center-battle-over-gmos-and-corporate-support | title=Casualty of GMO Wars | work=Inside Higher Education | date=14 August 2015 | accessdate=5 September 2015 | author=Flaherty, Colleen}}</ref> Instead, he states the claims were based on a few dozen emails and three professional direct interactions over thirteen years and show he was reimbursed by Monsanto for exact costs incurred for one travel event over that time to speak to farmers in Colorado in September 2014.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://kfolta.blogspot.com/2015/09/what-are-deep-ties-to-monsanto.html| title= What are "Deep Ties" to Monsanto? | work=Illumination (blog)| date=13 September 2015 | accessdate=13 September 2015 | author=Folta, Kevin}}</ref>


In September 2015, the ''[[New York Times]]'' alleged that Folta received an undisclosed amount of money in special grants from Monsanto to "help with 'biotechnology outreach”' and to travel around the country to defend genetically modified foods."<ref name=nyt>{{cite web | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/06/us/food-industry-enlisted-academics-in-gmo-lobbying-war-emails-show.html | title=Food Industry Enlisted Academics in G.M.O. Lobbying War, Emails Show | work=New York Times | date=5 September 2015 | accessdate=5 September 2015 | author=Lipton, Eric}}</ref>
In September 2015, the ''[[New York Times]]'' alleged that Folta received an undisclosed amount of money in special grants from Monsanto to "help with 'biotechnology outreach”' and to travel around the country to defend genetically modified foods."<ref name=nyt>{{cite web | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/06/us/food-industry-enlisted-academics-in-gmo-lobbying-war-emails-show.html | title=Food Industry Enlisted Academics in G.M.O. Lobbying War, Emails Show | work=New York Times | date=5 September 2015 | accessdate=5 September 2015 | author=Lipton, Eric}}</ref> Folta responded stating the outreach program is an established program in science communication for scientists, is not used in "defending genetically modified food" as Lipton claims, and that misinterpretations of the outreach program uses [[McCarthyism|McCarthy era tactics]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://scientistscitizens.wordpress.com/2015/09/10/new-york-times-your-reporting-fed-mccarthyite-attacks-on-kevin-folta/ | title=New York Times: Your reporting fed McCarthyite attacks on Kevin Folta| work=Between Scientists and Citizens | date=12 September 2015 | accessdate=12 September 2015 | author=Goodwin, Jean}}</ref>


Researchers cite Folta's case as an example of activist groups attempting to silence scientists who wish to engage in public discussion of politically controversial topics, describing it as the "Spiral of Silence".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.tampabay.com/news/perspective/perspective-records-requests-hijack-scientists-time/2245131 | title=Perspective: Records requests hijack scientists' time| work= Tampa Bay Times | date=12 September 2015 | accessdate=12 September 2015 | author=Payne, Jack}}</ref> Professor and science communicator [[Steven Novella]] noted that "The shill witch hunt is just getting started, and now they are emboldened by the PR bonanza they have found in FOIA requests for e-mails. All of this is likely to have a chilling effect on scientists speaking out in the public square on controversial issues."<ref>{{cite web | url=http://theness.com/neurologicablog/index.php/how-to-attack-a-public-scientist/ | title=How To Attack a Public Scientist| work=Neurologica Blog | date=11 September 2015 | accessdate=11 September 2015 | author=Novella,Steven}}</ref> In response to the controversy, the university reallocated donated funds for science communication to a university food pantry.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.gainesville.com/article/20150828/articles/150829661 |title= UF to donate Monsanto funds to food pantry | work=Gainesville Sun | date=28 August 2015 | accessdate=10 September 2015 | author=Adams, Mike}}</ref>
Researchers cite Folta's case as an example of activist groups attempting to silence scientists who wish to engage in public discussion of politically controversial topics, describing it as the "Spiral of Silence".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.tampabay.com/news/perspective/perspective-records-requests-hijack-scientists-time/2245131 | title=Perspective: Records requests hijack scientists' time| work= Tampa Bay Times | date=12 September 2015 | accessdate=12 September 2015 | author=Payne, Jack}}</ref> Professor and science communicator [[Steven Novella]] noted that "The shill witch hunt is just getting started, and now they are emboldened by the PR bonanza they have found in FOIA requests for e-mails. All of this is likely to have a chilling effect on scientists speaking out in the public square on controversial issues."<ref>{{cite web | url=http://theness.com/neurologicablog/index.php/how-to-attack-a-public-scientist/ | title=How To Attack a Public Scientist| work=Neurologica Blog | date=11 September 2015 | accessdate=11 September 2015 | author=Novella,Steven}}</ref> In response to the controversy, the university reallocated donated funds for science communication to a university food pantry.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.gainesville.com/article/20150828/articles/150829661 |title= UF to donate Monsanto funds to food pantry | work=Gainesville Sun | date=28 August 2015 | accessdate=10 September 2015 | author=Adams, Mike}}</ref>

Revision as of 00:12, 14 September 2015

Kevin M. Folta
Born
Chicago, Illinois[2]
Alma materNorthern Illinois University, University of Illinois at Chicago
Known forLight control of plant traits, novel genomics approaches, science communication
AwardsNational Science Foundation CAREER Award, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Distinguished Mentor Award[1]
Scientific career
FieldsMolecular biology, horticulture, agricultural science
InstitutionsUniversity of Florida
ThesisBlue light regulation of the pea Lhcb1*4 gene in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana (1998)
Doctoral advisorLon S. Kaufman
Other academic advisorsEdgar Spalding
WebsiteTalking Biotech www.talkingbiotech.com(communications program)

Kevin M. Folta is a professor in, and chairman of, the horticultural sciences department at the University of Florida.[3]

Education and career

Folta received his B.S. and M.S. in biology in 1989 and 1992, respectively, from Northern Illinois University, and his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Chicago in molecular biology in 1998.[3] He completed postdoctoral research at the University of Wisconsin, and joined the faculty at the University of Florida in 2002. He assumed the role of Interim Department Chair in 2012 and accepted the Chair position in 2013.[4]

Research

Folta's laboratory has two primary research areas—how to control plant traits with light, and use of genomics to identify molecular markers for key fruit-plant traits.

Plants and Light

Folta's first work in light began in 1987, when working with genetic mapping of genes associated with phytochrome responses. His research continued into blue-light-mediated control of gene expression and physiology through cryptochrome and phototropin receptors, using the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Later work would investigate the unusual effects of green light wavelengths using a variety of physiological approaches.This work in basic plant biology would later extend to studies of sources using light emitting diodes to control discrete facets of plant biology, including nutrient accumulation, flavor and shelf life.

Strawberry Genomics

Folta's work in strawberry genomics began in 2002, consistent with appointment in Land Grant university in a state with a strawberry industry. The first publications developed a set of molecular tools for strawberry research that quickly seeded community building among researchers. These early efforts raised the amount of public information in strawberry and other rosaceous crops, culminating in the sequencing of the strawberry genome in 2011, where Folta was the contributing author. Ongoing work in the laboratory continues to use genomics tools to identify genes associated with flavors, disease and other important industry traits.

Science communication

Folta has formal training in communication, and has been active in the public discussion of controversial public discussions such as evolution, climate, vaccines and agricultural biotechnology (familiarly genetically modified organisms (GMOs)) since 2002.[5] He has said the scientific consensus regarding the safety of genetically modified foods is comparable to those regarding global warming and vaccines.[6] He is an outspoken critic of Vani Hari's claims about the alleged dangers of certain food additives.[7]

Conflict of interest allegations

In early February 2015, the nonprofit organization US Right to Know filed a Freedom of Information Act request against the University of Florida, on the basis that the organization suspected that Folta may have been pressured into claiming that GMOs are safe by food and agricultural companies.[6] According to an article in Nature, in August 2015, the investigation began to produce documents which indicated that he had not committed scientific misconduct, but revealed that he had close ties to Monsanto and other biotechnology interests and that he had received a unrestricted $25,000 grant from Monsanto to be used "at your discretion in support of your research and outreach projects".[5] Folta responded to this article by denying the article's claims that he had "close ties" to Monsanto.[8] Instead, he states the claims were based on a few dozen emails and three professional direct interactions over thirteen years and show he was reimbursed by Monsanto for exact costs incurred for one travel event over that time to speak to farmers in Colorado in September 2014.[9]

In September 2015, the New York Times alleged that Folta received an undisclosed amount of money in special grants from Monsanto to "help with 'biotechnology outreach”' and to travel around the country to defend genetically modified foods."[10] Folta responded stating the outreach program is an established program in science communication for scientists, is not used in "defending genetically modified food" as Lipton claims, and that misinterpretations of the outreach program uses McCarthy era tactics.[11]

Researchers cite Folta's case as an example of activist groups attempting to silence scientists who wish to engage in public discussion of politically controversial topics, describing it as the "Spiral of Silence".[12] Professor and science communicator Steven Novella noted that "The shill witch hunt is just getting started, and now they are emboldened by the PR bonanza they have found in FOIA requests for e-mails. All of this is likely to have a chilling effect on scientists speaking out in the public square on controversial issues."[13] In response to the controversy, the university reallocated donated funds for science communication to a university food pantry.[14]

Freedom of Information Act requests have also been filed by "Food Babe" Vani Hari, requesting any emails that reference Hari or her website.[15][16]

References

  1. ^ "Kevin M. Folta, PhD" (PDF). Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  2. ^ "NIU alum has a taste for success". NIU Today. Northern Illinois University. 17 December 2012. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  3. ^ a b "Kevin M. Folta". University of Florida. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  4. ^ UF/IFAS names Folta as horticultural sciences chairman
  5. ^ a b Kloor, Keith (6 August 2015). "GM-crop opponents expand probe into ties between scientists and industry". Nature. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  6. ^ a b Levinovitz, Alan (23 February 2015). "Anti-GMO Activist Seeks to Expose Scientists' Emails With Big Ag". Wired. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  7. ^ Hamblin, James (11 February 2015). "The Food Babe: Enemy of Chemicals". The Atlantic. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  8. ^ Flaherty, Colleen (14 August 2015). "Casualty of GMO Wars". Inside Higher Education. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  9. ^ Folta, Kevin (13 September 2015). "What are "Deep Ties" to Monsanto?". Illumination (blog). Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  10. ^ Lipton, Eric (5 September 2015). "Food Industry Enlisted Academics in G.M.O. Lobbying War, Emails Show". New York Times. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  11. ^ Goodwin, Jean (12 September 2015). "New York Times: Your reporting fed McCarthyite attacks on Kevin Folta". Between Scientists and Citizens. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  12. ^ Payne, Jack (12 September 2015). "Perspective: Records requests hijack scientists' time". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  13. ^ Novella,Steven (11 September 2015). "How To Attack a Public Scientist". Neurologica Blog. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
  14. ^ Adams, Mike (28 August 2015). "UF to donate Monsanto funds to food pantry". Gainesville Sun. Retrieved 10 September 2015.
  15. ^ Hari, Vani (9 September 2015). "Why I am submitting a FOIA request". Food Babe (blog). Retrieved 9 September 2015.
  16. ^ Folta, Kevin (11 September 2015). "The FOIA Babe: New Abuse of Vanity Harassment". Science 2.0. Retrieved 11 September 2015.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kevin_Folta&oldid=680909699"