Farm Progress

Science discredits misinformation regarding pesticide residue and GMOs.

Ron Smith 1, Senior Content Director

July 17, 2015

1 Min Read

When science weighs in on food safety, especially regarding GMOs and organic versus conventional production, the conclusions often clash with what’s often reported in mainstream media.

Three recent reports, two on GMOs and one on organic agriculture, show how research cuts through emotion and innuendo to get to the facts.  

An article in Slate discredits much of the negative press against GMO crops as based on “fraud, lies and errors.

A recent report from the American Council of Science and Health (ACSH) points out the fallacy of mainstream media giving voice to spokespersons with less than authentic credentials in the subject matter.

Another report from ACSH discusses recent research showing that exposure to pesticide residue in conventional produce is “far below levels of health concern.

About the Author(s)

Ron Smith 1

Senior Content Director, Farm Press/Farm Progress

Ron Smith has spent more than 40 years covering Sunbelt agriculture. Ron began his career in agricultural journalism as an Experiment Station and Extension editor at Clemson University, where he earned a Masters Degree in English in 1975. He served as associate editor for Southeast Farm Press from 1978 through 1989. In 1990, Smith helped launch Southern Turf Management Magazine and served as editor. He also helped launch two other regional Turf and Landscape publications and launched and edited Florida Grove and Vegetable Management for the Farm Press Group. Within two years of launch, the turf magazines were well-respected, award-winning publications. Ron has received numerous awards for writing and photography in both agriculture and landscape journalism. He is past president of The Turf and Ornamental Communicators Association and was chosen as the first media representative to the University of Georgia College of Agriculture Advisory Board. He was named Communicator of the Year for the Metropolitan Atlanta Agricultural Communicators Association. More recently, he was awarded the Norman Borlaug Lifetime Achievement Award by the Texas Plant Protection Association. Smith also worked in public relations, specializing in media relations for agricultural companies. Ron lives with his wife Pat in Johnson City, Tenn. They have two grown children, Stacey and Nick, and three grandsons, Aaron, Hunter and Walker.

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