UK Govt bee scientist to join Syngenta

A key UK government scientist Dr Helen Thompson whose research was used by ministers to argue against a ban on pesticides thought to harm bees is to join Syngenta, the chemical giant which manufactures one of the insecticides.

Dr Helen Thompson will leave the UK government's Food and Environment Research Agency (Fera) to join Syngenta on 1 September. Thompson led a field trial of the effect of neonicotinoids – the world's most widely used insecticides – on bees, which was fast-tracked and frequently cited by ministers – although the UK subsequently failed to block a two-year ban in Europe on the pesticides after 15 other EU nations voted in favour.

"Government policy should be informed by unbiased and disinterested scientific research," said Joan Walley MP, chair of the environmental audit committee, whose report in April accused the environment secretary Owen Paterson's department of "extraordinary complacency" over bees and pesticides. "This principle is undermined if the government research agency is too close to the pesticides industry and if scientists are zigzagging between the two."

A Fera spokeswoman said: "Dr Thompson's move is a reflection of her expertise and international reputation within the scientific community. There is no conflict of interest. There are very specific rules for civil servants governing the acceptance of appointments outside the civil service."

Thompson was immediately withdrawn from research projects which could lead to a conflict of interest when she informed Fera of her new job on 4 July. A Syngenta spokesman said that for one year Thompson would "have no direct professional contact" with Fera or the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), nor work on any UK or European Union projects. "Syngenta is committed to fully understanding and developing solutions to the problem of declining bee health," said the spokesman. "Experienced scientists are the key to achieving this goal." For the first year, Thompson will work on a "range of international projects", said Syngenta.