→Conflict of interest allegations: Added attribution of NYT article to Eric Lipton |
Brustopher (talk | contribs) →Conflict of interest allegations: Even if people do consider this a reliable enough source for inclusion it's a questionable use of the source. we're currently taking one line that makes Folta/UoF look bad from this very nuanced article. Removing. |
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In a ''[[Nature (journal)|Nature]]'' article from August 2015 [[Keith Kloor]] wrote that Folta had "close ties to Monsanto and other biotechnology interests".<ref name=nature/> Folta responded to this article by denying the article's claims that he had "close ties" to Monsanto.<ref name=ihe>{{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> He stated on his blog that the claims were based on a few dozen emails and three professional direct interactions over thirteen years.<ref name=kfolta>{{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> Folta has maintained that he has always acted according to his research as a public scientist.<ref name=ihe/> |
In a ''[[Nature (journal)|Nature]]'' article from August 2015 [[Keith Kloor]] wrote that Folta had "close ties to Monsanto and other biotechnology interests".<ref name=nature/> Folta responded to this article by denying the article's claims that he had "close ties" to Monsanto.<ref name=ihe>{{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> He stated on his blog that the claims were based on a few dozen emails and three professional direct interactions over thirteen years.<ref name=kfolta>{{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> Folta has maintained that he has always acted according to his research as a public scientist.<ref name=ihe/> |
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In September 2015, [[Eric Lipton]] wrote in the ''[[New York Times]]'' that scientists such as Folta had received 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> At the request of Folta, The University of Florida received a $25,000 grant from Monsanto that was to be used at the university's discretion in support of research and outreach projects, which was then earmarked for an already established biotechnology communication program. Folta submitted expense reports to use the funds to pay for travel expenses, a small projector, and coffee and food for participants in order to speak to farmers in Colorado in September 2014.<ref name=gainesville>{{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=Schweers, Jeff}}</ref><ref name=kfolta/> Most of these expenses had since been reimbursed to the fund with honoraria from his talks and private donations from individuals and small businesses.<ref name=gainesville/> In response to the controversy and personal threats against Folta, the university, while denying any wrongdoing, offered to return the donation to Monsanto. When this was refused, they agreed to reallocate the funds into a university food pantry.<ref name=nature/><ref name=tampa/><ref name=gainesville/ |
In September 2015, [[Eric Lipton]] wrote in the ''[[New York Times]]'' that scientists such as Folta had received 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> At the request of Folta, The University of Florida received a $25,000 grant from Monsanto that was to be used at the university's discretion in support of research and outreach projects, which was then earmarked for an already established biotechnology communication program. Folta submitted expense reports to use the funds to pay for travel expenses, a small projector, and coffee and food for participants in order to speak to farmers in Colorado in September 2014.<ref name=gainesville>{{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=Schweers, Jeff}}</ref><ref name=kfolta/> Most of these expenses had since been reimbursed to the fund with honoraria from his talks and private donations from individuals and small businesses.<ref name=gainesville/> In response to the controversy and personal threats against Folta, the university, while denying any wrongdoing, offered to return the donation to Monsanto. When this was refused, they agreed to reallocate the funds into a university food pantry.<ref name=nature/><ref name=tampa/><ref name=gainesville/> |
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Jack Payne, head of the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, characterised 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 a "spiral of silence".<ref name=tampa>{{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]] wrote 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> |
Jack Payne, head of the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, characterised 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 a "spiral of silence".<ref name=tampa>{{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]] wrote 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> |
Revision as of 23:09, 16 September 2015
Kevin M. Folta | |
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Born | |
Alma mater | Northern Illinois University, University of Illinois at Chicago |
Known for | Light control of plant traits, novel genomics approaches, science communication |
Awards | National Science Foundation CAREER Award, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Distinguished Mentor Award[1] |
Scientific career | |
Fields | Molecular biology, horticulture, agricultural science |
Institutions | University of Florida |
Thesis | Blue light regulation of the pea Lhcb1*4 gene in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana (1998) |
Doctoral advisor | Lon S. Kaufman |
Other academic advisors | Edgar Spalding |
Website | www |
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.[citation needed] His earliest publications helped to develop a set of molecular tools for strawberry research that quickly seeded community building among researchers.[citation needed] These early efforts raised the amount of public information in strawberry and other rosaceous crops,[citation needed] culminating in the sequencing of the strawberry genome in 2011, where Folta was the contributing author[5] . Ongoing work in the laboratory continues to use genomics tools to identify genes associated with flavors, disease and other important industry traits.[citation needed]
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.[6] He has said the scientific consensus regarding the safety of genetically modified foods is comparable to those regarding global warming and vaccines.[7] He is an outspoken critic of Vani Hari's claims about the alleged dangers of certain food additives.[8]
Conflict of interest allegations
In early February 2015, the nonprofit and organic-industry funded organization US Right to Know[9] filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to 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.[7] The University released documents, including email exchanges with Monsanto, which indicated that he had not committed scientific misconduct.[6]
In a Nature article from August 2015 Keith Kloor wrote that Folta had "close ties to Monsanto and other biotechnology interests".[6] Folta responded to this article by denying the article's claims that he had "close ties" to Monsanto.[10] He stated on his blog that the claims were based on a few dozen emails and three professional direct interactions over thirteen years.[11] Folta has maintained that he has always acted according to his research as a public scientist.[10]
In September 2015, Eric Lipton wrote in the New York Times that scientists such as Folta had received money in special grants from Monsanto to help with biotechnology outreach and to travel around the country to defend genetically modified foods.[9] At the request of Folta, The University of Florida received a $25,000 grant from Monsanto that was to be used at the university's discretion in support of research and outreach projects, which was then earmarked for an already established biotechnology communication program. Folta submitted expense reports to use the funds to pay for travel expenses, a small projector, and coffee and food for participants in order to speak to farmers in Colorado in September 2014.[12][11] Most of these expenses had since been reimbursed to the fund with honoraria from his talks and private donations from individuals and small businesses.[12] In response to the controversy and personal threats against Folta, the university, while denying any wrongdoing, offered to return the donation to Monsanto. When this was refused, they agreed to reallocate the funds into a university food pantry.[6][13][12]
Jack Payne, head of the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, characterised 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 a "spiral of silence".[13] Professor and science communicator Steven Novella wrote 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."[14]
References
- ^ "Kevin M. Folta, PhD" (PDF). Retrieved 5 September 2015.
- ^ "NIU alum has a taste for success". NIU Today. Northern Illinois University. 17 December 2012. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
- ^ a b "Kevin M. Folta". University of Florida. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
- ^ UF/IFAS names Folta as horticultural sciences chairman
- ^ Shulaev, Vladimir; Sargent, Daniel J; Crowhurst, Ross N; Mockler, Todd C; Folkerts, Otto; et al. (2011). "The genome of woodland strawberry (Fragaria vesca)". Nature Genetics. 43 (2): 109–116. doi:10.1038/ng.740. ISSN 1061-4036.
- ^ a b c d Kloor, Keith (6 August 2015). "GM-crop opponents expand probe into ties between scientists and industry". Nature. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
Folta did receive an unrestricted US$25,000 grant last year from Monsanto.
- ^ a b Levinovitz, Alan (23 February 2015). "Anti-GMO Activist Seeks to Expose Scientists' Emails With Big Ag". Wired. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
- ^ Hamblin, James (11 February 2015). "The Food Babe: Enemy of Chemicals". The Atlantic. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
- ^ a b Lipton, Eric (5 September 2015). "Food Industry Enlisted Academics in G.M.O. Lobbying War, Emails Show". New York Times. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
- ^ a b Flaherty, Colleen (14 August 2015). "Casualty of GMO Wars". Inside Higher Education. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
- ^ a b Folta, Kevin (13 September 2015). "What are "Deep Ties" to Monsanto?". Illumination (blog). Retrieved 13 September 2015.
- ^ a b c Schweers, Jeff (28 August 2015). "UF to donate Monsanto funds to food pantry". Gainesville Sun. Retrieved 10 September 2015.
- ^ a b Payne, Jack (12 September 2015). "Perspective: Records requests hijack scientists' time". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
- ^ Novella,Steven (11 September 2015). "How To Attack a Public Scientist". Neurologica Blog. Retrieved 11 September 2015.