Petition: Scientists in Support of GMO Technology for Crop Improvement

Dear  Colleagues,

As you know, there is substantial fear of GMO technology both within commercial and public spheres. Recently, companies like Chipotle and initiatives such as the Non-GMO Project (representing over 4,500 non-GMO brands) have cited a petition of 300 scientists that claim there is no consensus regarding the scientific safety of GMOs.

A group of scientists and myself have organized a petition for the contrasting viewpoint, supporting continued scientific oversight demonstrating the safe use of GMO technology to address global problems in agriculture, human health, and sustainable agriculture. The petition voices support for the official statement of the American Society of Plant Biologists on plant genetic engineering, which argues for the continued “responsible development and science-based oversight of GE and other food production technologies and practices.”

Please take a few moments to read our petition and sign if you are inclined. Please share and disseminate widely (if using social media, the hashtag is #ISupportGMO). If a scientist, please put your title and affiliation in the “reasons for signing” box. Non-professional scientists supporting the scientific oversight of GMO technologies are encouraged to sign as well.

This is an easy way to voice support for science-based oversight of GMO technology and counter fears that scientific studies have not demonstrated its safe use to address global problems.

The link to sign and share the petition is here:

http://cas.nonprofitsoapbox.com/aspbsupportstatement

Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me or other members of the organizing committee.

Sincerely,

Rebecca Bart, PhD, Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, MO, USA

Dan Chitwood, PhD, Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, MO, USA

José Dinneny, PhD, Carnegie Institution for Science, Stanford, CA, USA

Luis Herrera-Estrella, PhD, Laboratorio Nacional de Genómica para la Biodiversidad, Irapuato, Mexico

Rubén Réllan-Álvarez, PhD, Laboratorio Nacional de Genómica para la Biodiversidad, Irapuato, Mexico