University/Corporate Relations and their Effect on Biotechnology Research

Today on Focus we'll look at the ways in which relations between corporations and universities have affected biotechnology research. The increasing attention paid to profitability in academic work, says Michael Hanson, has driven research in directions with high expected returns—and led it away from areas that might contribute to the greater good. He joins us today to explain how biotechnology has developed an emphasis on genetic engineering—profit—over agricultural ecology.

Michael Hansen is from the Consumer Policy Institute of the Consumers Union.