Corporate Operation

A global independent media investigation has uncovered a massive international corporate operation of undercover activities designed to downplay the risks of pesticides and genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and discredit environmentalists in Africa, Europe and North America.
 
As part of the coordinated operation to counter global resistance, US-based public relations or “reputation management” firm v-Fluence created a surveillance project that profiles more than 3,000 environmental organisations and 500 critics of the pesticide and biotechnology industry. The derogatory profiles of environmental advocates, scientists, UN human rights experts and journalists are published on a secret website accessible to a “private social network” of 1,000 members including top corporate executives and government officials. v-Fluence and its website “Bonus Eventus” is the brainchild of Jay Byrne, a former Monsanto director of corporate communications. Click here to read the story in The Guardian.
 
Among the findings:

• The US government funded v-Fluence as part of its program to promote GMOs in Africa and Asia. 
• More than thirty current US government officials are members of the private website Bonus Eventus, most from the US Department of Agriculture.
• The US government was involved in an attempt to sabotage a conference on pesticides in Nairobi, Kenya, that showcased sustainable alternatives.
• About 300 individuals and organizations in Africa, mainly in Kenya, are profiled.
• The corporate operation focussed efforts on stopping Kenya from banning the harmful pesticide Paraquat which is illegal in Europe and many other countries and has been discontinued in Canada. You can watch the two-part documentary here: Poison PR.
• US author Michael Pollan was profiled as an “ardent opponent” of industrial agriculture and a proponent of organic farming. His profile includes details such as the names of his siblings, parents, son and brother-in-law. 
• Former New York Times food writer Mark Bittman is the subject of a 2000-word profile that includes a description of where he lives and details of two marriages and personal hobbies.

The hub of this investigation is Lighthouse Reports, in collaboration with The Guardian US, Africa Uncensored, Le Monde, the New Lede, The New Humanitarian, The Continent, ABC News Australia, and the Wire. This article provides links to the exposés published by newspapers around the world, highlighting activities in the different countries: https://www.lighthousereports.com/investigation/poison-pr/
 
Stay tuned as more details are revealed.

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The Canadian Biotechnology Action Network (CBAN) brings together 15 organizations to research, monitor and raise awareness about issues relating to genetic engineering in food and farming. CBAN members include farmer associations, environmental and social justice organizations, and regional coalitions of grassroots groups. CBAN is a project of MakeWay's shared platform.