Agricultural GMOs and their associated pesticides: misinformation, science, and evidence
Abstract Misinformation has always existed, but it became a major preoccupation during the COVID-19 pandemic due to its ability to affect public health choices, decisions, and policy. In their article, “Misinformation in the media: Global coverage of GMOs 2019–2021” (GM Crops & Food, 17 Nov 2022...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SpringerOpen
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Environmental Sciences Europe |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12302-023-00787-4 |
| _version_ | 1797577515704778752 |
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| author | Michael N. Antoniou Claire Robinson Irina Castro Angelika Hilbeck |
| author_facet | Michael N. Antoniou Claire Robinson Irina Castro Angelika Hilbeck |
| author_sort | Michael N. Antoniou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Misinformation has always existed, but it became a major preoccupation during the COVID-19 pandemic due to its ability to affect public health choices, decisions, and policy. In their article, “Misinformation in the media: Global coverage of GMOs 2019–2021” (GM Crops & Food, 17 Nov 2022), Mark Lynas et al. characterise critics of agricultural genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and their associated pesticides as purveyors of “misinformation”. They draw an equivalence between critics of agricultural GMOs and people who make false claims about climate change, COVID-19, and vaccines. We examined their main claims on these GMOs—for example, that there is a scientific consensus that they are safe for health and the environment—in the light of the scientific evidence and public discussion on this topic. We found that their claims are biased and misleading and ignore or omit crucial evidence. We conclude that based on the evidence provided, Lynas et al. article can itself be classed as misinformation and could therefore mislead the general public as well as the scientific community. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:09:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-767e1c7736064d2c8e6bee7429f1a29a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2190-4715 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:09:25Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environmental Sciences Europe |
| spelling | doaj.art-767e1c7736064d2c8e6bee7429f1a29a2023-11-19T12:40:45ZengSpringerOpenEnvironmental Sciences Europe2190-47152023-09-0135111610.1186/s12302-023-00787-4Agricultural GMOs and their associated pesticides: misinformation, science, and evidenceMichael N. Antoniou0Claire Robinson1Irina Castro2Angelika Hilbeck3Gene Expression and Therapy Group, King’s College London, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Guy’s HospitalGMWatchCentre for Social Studies, University of Coimbra, Colégio de S. JerónimoSwiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) ZurichAbstract Misinformation has always existed, but it became a major preoccupation during the COVID-19 pandemic due to its ability to affect public health choices, decisions, and policy. In their article, “Misinformation in the media: Global coverage of GMOs 2019–2021” (GM Crops & Food, 17 Nov 2022), Mark Lynas et al. characterise critics of agricultural genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and their associated pesticides as purveyors of “misinformation”. They draw an equivalence between critics of agricultural GMOs and people who make false claims about climate change, COVID-19, and vaccines. We examined their main claims on these GMOs—for example, that there is a scientific consensus that they are safe for health and the environment—in the light of the scientific evidence and public discussion on this topic. We found that their claims are biased and misleading and ignore or omit crucial evidence. We conclude that based on the evidence provided, Lynas et al. article can itself be classed as misinformation and could therefore mislead the general public as well as the scientific community.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12302-023-00787-4BiotechnologyAgricultural biotechnologyGenetic engineeringGenetic modificationGenetically modified organismGMO |
| spellingShingle | Michael N. Antoniou Claire Robinson Irina Castro Angelika Hilbeck Agricultural GMOs and their associated pesticides: misinformation, science, and evidence Environmental Sciences Europe Biotechnology Agricultural biotechnology Genetic engineering Genetic modification Genetically modified organism GMO |
| title | Agricultural GMOs and their associated pesticides: misinformation, science, and evidence |
| title_full | Agricultural GMOs and their associated pesticides: misinformation, science, and evidence |
| title_fullStr | Agricultural GMOs and their associated pesticides: misinformation, science, and evidence |
| title_full_unstemmed | Agricultural GMOs and their associated pesticides: misinformation, science, and evidence |
| title_short | Agricultural GMOs and their associated pesticides: misinformation, science, and evidence |
| title_sort | agricultural gmos and their associated pesticides misinformation science and evidence |
| topic | Biotechnology Agricultural biotechnology Genetic engineering Genetic modification Genetically modified organism GMO |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12302-023-00787-4 |
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