Over the past two weeks, there has been considerable controversy about a report written by a group of researchers at the Danish Centre for Food and Agriculture (DCA) in Foulum in collaboration with the Danish Agriculture and Food Council and Danish Crown.
I want to emphasise that at Aarhus University, we are vigilant about in safeguarding independent, non-targeted research, in every single case – and our integrity must be unquestionable. And so we are taking this matter extremely seriously.
On the basis of the information currently available, the report in question is the result of a completely unacceptable process involving a breach of the arm’s length principle governing research collaboration with external parties. The report is thus not in conformity with the fundamental principles of independent scientific inquiry. For example, it is unacceptable that external parties write parts of reports published as the work of Aarhus University researchers. The report also violates the university’s own guidelines.
I expect that the Faculty of Science and Technology will take the necessary steps to get to the bottom of this matter immediately, and will ensure that the necessary consequences are taken.
The Senior Management Team publishes a weekly newsletter. This includes details of decisions and initiatives from the Senior Management Team, plus current activities and discussions.