BBC compromised by deal with agrochemical company, says DeSmog

Sponsorship deals between corporations and media outlets are now commonplace. Skim through most major news websites and you’ll likely see a raft of adverts and sponsored articles from big business. However, you would reasonably assume, given its public funding, that the BBC would not be reliant on corporate cash. Sadly, this is not the case. A new DeSmog investigation – published in partnership with the Financial Times – has uncovered how the BBC produced 10 hours of documentary content sponsored by Corteva, one of the world’s largest pesticide companies. We know that the content was shaped by Corteva’s requirements – because the BBC’s commercial content studio Storyworks has said so – yet the documentaries (viewed by 65 million people) are still available to watch in the UK without any mention of the partnership. The content, which focused on the future of sustainable food, uncritically showcased some of the controversial technologies used and sold by Corteva.“A public service should not be in bed with a pesticide company to produce these kinds of films,” said Emile Frison, a leading sustainable food expert. Corteva has its roots in four multinationals: the chemical companies Dow and DuPont, the seed company Pioneer, and the agricultural interests of the pharmaceuticals giant, Eli Lilly. It is not clear how much the documentaries endorsed Corteva products and systems. However, the affair does suggest that Auntie has been compromised to some extent.