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market-farming - Re: Aspartame, and food approval as usual

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  • From: "Bill Shoemaker" <wshoemak AT inil.com>
  • To: "Market Farming" <market-farming AT franklin.metalab.unc.edu>
  • Subject: Re: Aspartame, and food approval as usual
  • Date: Mon, 26 Aug 2002 11:39:19 -0500

Title: [market-farming] Re: Aspartame, and food approval as u
While I understand peoples' distrust of the term "solid scientific data", I have to tell you that the PROPER use of the scientific method is the best way to determine the probability that something is true. There is much abuse of the results of scientific research and there are too many in the scientific community who use the system to support their agendas. It's unfortunate because it leads to the distrust that is being expressed here. However, not all research at land-grant universities is funded from outside, private sources. Both federal and state governments contribute significantly and expect peer-reviewed, published, honest results. Even in the case of private funding, whether it's from Monsanto or the Organic Farming Research Foundation, University researchers are compelled by the process and their peers to put honest results in the publications. Again, there may be abuses but they are not the norm. Unfortunately, Governmental sources are less likely to disseminate results in popular literature while commercial sources plow big bucks into their spin to the public.
 
    Simple observations, common sense and basic honesty can go a long way toward helping unknot the confusion out there but for those who subscribe to this method, they can benefit from the self-discipline and rigorous analysis that the scientific method demands. While the term "sound science" can be abused and often is, there really is such a critter and we all benefit when it's used properly. I support healthy skepticism but regret when people ignore real "sound science".
 
Bill Shoemaker
Sr Research Specialist, Food Crops
Univ of Illinois - St Charles Hort Research Center
 
 
        : where do you think "solid scientific data" comes from?
Independent sources?  I think not!  This data is paid for either directly or
indirectly by interested corporations who will gain from the results.  Look
at every land grant college in the country and check out their funding
sources for research.  The term "sound science" chills my blood because it
negates the methods that humans have used over the centuries to determine
cause and result: simple observation.  I'm sure each of us use it every day
in our gardens and fields and yet it wouldn't be considered "sound science".
RIGHT ON!!!



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