Robert (Bob) Tarone
USA
Retired statistician who has acted as a paid consultant to Monsanto on its efforts to discredit the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) without making this conflict of interest clear.
Articles: Monsanto Spin Doctors Target Cancer Scientist In Flawed Reuters Story
IARC Responds to Reuters Article
Links: Monsanto, Genetic Literacy Project, Henry Miller, Kate Kelland
Lord Dick Taverne
UK
British politician with a background in PR, including promoting the interests of the tobacco industry, who lobbies for GM crops. Founded and chaired Sense About Science until 2012, when he became a Patron. Also involved in setting up the Science Media Centre and served on its advisory board. Member of the industry-backed All-Party Parliamentary Group on Science and Technology in Agriculture, which also lobbies for GM crops. Advisor to American Council on Science and Health.
Profiles: Powerbase
Article: Seeding Doubt: How Self-Appointed Guardians of “Sound Science” Tip the Scales Toward Industry
Links: Science Media Centre, Sense About Science, Tracey Brown, LM group, Lord David Sainsbury, American Council on Science and Health
Michael Taylor
USA
Poster child for the revolving door. Began his career as a lawyer for the FDA, before working at a firm that represented Monsanto in the late 1970s. Returned to the FDA as Deputy Commissioner in 1991, then worked for the USDA in the mid-1990s, before becoming Vice President for Public Policy at Monsanto. (1996-2000) He re-entered government employment as the Senior Advisor to the FDA Commissioner in 2009 and then became "food czar" at the FDA (2010 to 2016). Concerns raised about his possible role in the approval of Monsanto's GM growth hormone and in the FDA's formulation of its controversial doctrine of substantial equivalence.
Profiles: Powerbase, Open Secrets
Article: Monsanto's Man Taylor Returns to FDA as Food Czar
Links: Monsanto
Jennifer Thomson
South Africa
South African scientist who sits on the boards of industry lobby groups AfricaBio (2000-2010), ISAAA (2002-present, Vice-Chair 2013-present). Was chair of South Africa's GM regulator SAGENE (1990-1992; and member 1993-1998), which facilitated the commercialisation of the first GM crops on the continent of Africa. Chair of South Africa's National Biotechnology Advisory Committee (2006-2009; member 2009-2012). AATF Board Chair (2003-2008; member 2009-present). Distinguished Advisor (2000-2004) to industry PR body Council for Biotechnology Information. Author of three books promoting GM crops: Genes for Africa, Seeds for the Future, and Food for Africa.
Profiles: Powerbase
Links: AATF, AfricaBio, ISAAA, Muffy Koch, South African Committee on Genetic Experimentation (SAGENE), Council for Biotechnology Information
Tomorrow's Bounty
USA
PR campaign promoting GM crops launched by the Agriculture Commodity Coalition and funded by the Council for Biotechnology Information.
Profiles: Powerbase
Links: Agriculture Commodity Coalition, American Farm Bureau Federation, American Soybean Association, Council for Biotechnology Information, National Corn Growers Association, Kimball Nill
Tony Trewavas
UK
GM scientist notorious for his extreme support for GM foods and antipathy to organic farming. Served on the Governing Council of the John Innes Centre and as an advisor to Sense About Science and the Scientific Alliance. Heavily involved in the attacks on the research of Ignacio Chapela and Gilles-Éric Séralini.
Profiles: Powerbase
Articles: Greenpeace wins damages over professor's 'unfounded' allegations
Smelling a corporate rat
Prof Trewavas requires a health warning
Links: Royal Society, Scientific Alliance, Sense About Science, John Innes Centre, C.S. Prakash, Andura Smetacek
David Tribe
Australia
Co-founder with Bruce Chassy of Academics Review and a director of Biofortified. Academics Review was set up explicitly as a front group with the help of Monsanto executives and the company's former director of communications Jay Byrne. The group discussed using Academics Review as a vehicle to discredit critics of GMOs and pesticides. Member of Bonus Eventus, which incorporated derogatory profiles of pesticide industry targets from Academics Review. Has promoted GM crops from the platform of the pro-corporate think tank, the Institute of Public Affairs.
Profiles: Powerbase
Article: Academics Review: The Making of a Monsanto Front Group
Former Monsanto exec's invite-only social network reveals the dark tactics of the pro-chemical lobby
Links: Bruce Chassy, Academics Review, C.S. Prakash, Biofortified, Anastasia Bodnar, Karl Haro von Mogel, Klaus Ammann, Institute of Public Affairs, Bonus Eventus
Truth about Trade and Technology (rebranded as Global Farmer Network since 2016)
USA
Described itself as a grassroots farm organization and lobbied for free trade and GM crops. Chaired by Dean Kleckner, who was formerly president of the Iowa Farm Bureau and then led the American Farm Bureau Federation. Kleckner died in 2015 and a year later the organization rebranded as the Global Farmer Network.
Profiles: Powerbase
Links: American Farm Bureau Federation, Iowa Farm Bureau, Dean Kleckner
Tech Central Station
USA
Pro-free market website hosted by James Glassman, a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and syndicated columnist for Scripps Howard News Service.
Profiles: Powerbase
Links: American Enterprise Institute, James Glassman