To Protect Atrazine, Syngenta Investigated Judges & Federal Panelists, Had List Of 130 Pet Orgs

[hatrack]

To protect profits threatened by a lawsuit over its controversial herbicide atrazine, Syngenta Crop Protection launched an aggressive multi-million dollar campaign that included hiring a detective agency to investigate scientists on a federal advisory panel, looking into the personal life of a judge and commissioning a psychological profile of a leading scientist critical of atrazine.

The Switzerland-based pesticide manufacturer also routinely paid “third-party allies” to appear to be independent supporters, and kept a list of 130 people and groups it could recruit as experts without disclosing ties to the company.

Recently unsealed court documents reveal a corporate strategy to discredit critics and to strip plaintiffs from the class-action case. The company specifically targeted one of atrazine’s fiercest and most outspoken critics, Tyrone Hayes of the University of California, Berkeley, whose research suggests that atrazine feminizes male frogs.

EDIT

The documents show that the company conducted research into the vulnerabilities of a judge, and Hayes’ personal life. Sherry Duvall Ford, Syngenta’s former head of communications, ranked strategies that Syngenta could use against Hayes in order of risk, according to her notes from Syngenta meetings in April 2005. One possibility: offering “to cut him in on unlimited research funds.” Another: Investigate his wife. In her deposition, Ford read from a memo emailed to her colleagues indicating that Syngenta had hired a detective agency to investigate members of an EPA Scientific Advisory Panel [SAP] examining atrazine. “I don’t think it would be helpful if it were generally known that we research SAP members,” Ford read. “The real good stuff I have kept for myself . . . It [sic.] protection for Janis on atrazine.” (Janis E. McFarland is a Syngenta employee involved with the public relations campaign.)

EDIT

http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/news/2013/atrazine

[GeorgeGist]

1. Nothing new.

Just protecting themselves ...like Americans.

Shoot the messenger.

[pscot]

2. Syngenta must have been terribly disappointed in Ms Ford

after all, they have a strict Corporate Code of Conduct:

Our stakeholders must have confidence in Syngenta for our business to remain successful. We can only maintain their trust if we act – and are seen to act – in accordance with the highest standards of ethics and integrity.

Our Code of Conduct is a key part of our compliance framework. It demonstrates our commitment to build and maintain trust in Syngenta and to integrate our business, social and environmental responsibilities into everything we do. It has been sanctioned by the Board of Directors and is an integral part of daily business life.

Every Syngenta employee receives a copy of the Code and is expected to know, understand and apply it without exception. Discussion sessions with leaders and extensive online training is available to help employees deepen their understanding of the Code.

We encourage employees to report any suspected violations of the Code of Conduct, either directly to their line manager, a member of our Legal, Compliance or Human Resources teams, or on an anonymous basis through our external Compliance Helpline, which is available 24-hours a day in 21 languages.

Violations of this Code will result in appropriate disciplinary action under applicable employment laws and practices. Under the umbrella of the Code we have made progress towards achieving a holistic view of all compliance and risk management matters across Syngenta.

[hatrack]

3. Yes, Heaven help those at Syngenta who violate this sacred Code!