Cash labs

In his investigation into agricultural research in Canadian universities (“Science for Sale,” May), Bruce Livesey implies that if industry pays for a study, its results can’t be trusted. But many scientific studies on which regulators rely are paid for by companies seeking to sell their products. The regulators evaluate the results to determine the safety and efficacy of products. Livesey doesn’t say whether he thinks this system is acceptable. Would he prefer that studies be funded by the government?

Ivo Krupka

Ottawa, ON As a former public servant active in the international regulatory process, I resent the implicit attack on government officials in Livesey’s piece. Agencies such as Health Canada—whose employees are responsible, qualified, and experienced—have concluded that products containing glyphosate meet the standard of reasonable certainty of no harm, as the law requires. Perhaps these issues are more complex than they seem. J. David Miller

Ottawa, ON