CNRS institute’s ‘scandalous’ part in pro-GMO campaign draws fire

But research agency defends position and insists that ‘multidisciplinary debate continues’

French researchers have expressed dismay after a national research institute encouraged its staff to support a campaign to ease EU restrictions on genetic modification of crops.

The management of the CNRS Institute of Biological Sciences, one of the research agency’s 10 major departments, sent campaign material by the environmental pressure group WePlanet to around 15 unit directors in the runup to a vote at the European Parliament on easing EU restrictions around the genetic modification of crops.