An official government website revealed that an unnamed individual in a "privileged academic or regulatory" position tried to get Andrew Stirling dropped from a research project by approaching its funders and disparaging his work and professional standing.

The approach was made after Stirling, a risk evaluation expert at Sussex University, took part an official GM science review panel set up by the government to advise it on the safety of GM crops and technology, said the website for the government's public debate on GM foods, www.GMNation.org.uk.

Sterling contacted David King, the government's chief scientific adviser, after he became aware of the smear campaign against him and the attempt to cut off his funding.

King, who also chaired the review panel, decided to make the formal complaint public.

In minutes of the last panel meeting published on the official website, and signed off by King, he is quoted as saying that the panel "depended fundamentally for its success on members being able to contribute in good faith, without fears that clandestine attempts may be made to undermine their research, their professional standing or their funding."

He added: "Ultimately, such behaviour by individuals in privileged academic or regulatory positions threatened seriously to compromise the credibility and proper functioning of the science advice system."

The minutes said the review panel had "strongly endorsed" this statement.

In its final report published last Monday, the committee had found that there was no scientific justification at this stage for a ban on genetically modified crops.

But it said questions remained over the potential effects of GM crops on the soil in which they are grown, as well as other plants and animals, and recommended further research on possible effects on allergies, soil ecology and biodiversity.

TERRA.WIRE