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Published online 22 April 2009 | Nature 458, 958 (2009) | doi:10.1038/458958f

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Germany joins in with maize moratorium

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  • The argument from minister Aigner to ban MON810 was that recent publications indicate ecological dangers connected to the use of MON810, so - formally - a scientific reasoning. Thus, in my office as a speaker of all biology faculties of Germany, I wanted to understand the decision and asked minister Aigner for the respective publications or a reference list - no answer up to today. I had to ask Monsanto at the end. So, although science has been used by minister Aigner to excuse a mere political decision, fundamental rules of scientific discussions were obviously not followed. I think that is a bad example for the interaction between political leaders and the scientific community in Germany. Dietrich H. Nies, as speaker of the KBF (Konferenz Biologischer Fachbereiche) in Germany.

    • 29 Apr, 2009
    • Posted by: Dietrich H.