and economic benefits of a return to a plant oil-based industry would be high. Stymne believes that the application of genetic engineering is a prerequisite for successful completion of this transition since many plants that produce oils that are of interest to industry are not suitable for large-scale cultivation. For a long time, he has argued for the need for brand new oil crops that are not only suitable for large-scale cultivation across large parts of Europe but also a suitable candidate for gene manipulation to tailor oil quality. Stymne have suggested that Crambe abyssinica and Lepidium campestre may be suitable candidates with regard to agronomic and genetic engineering factors. He has also highlighted that Lepidium campestre can be utilized to develop a perennial high-yielding oil crop which can thereby reduce environmental impact due to reduced need for plowing. Stymne as a science communicator Throughout his career, Stymne has been actively involved in popularization of his area of research, genetic engineering and genetically modified crops, and has become famous for the innovative way of explaining abstract research results on plant lipid biochemistry. He has also been a widely employed lecturer and diligent writer on the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences blog where he participated actively in the discussion about genetically modified crops with the interested public. Criticism As active in the GMO debate, Stymne has received a lot of criticism from predominantly opponents who, among other things, claim that he is biased in his opinion while claiming that he is receiving financial support from the plant biotechnology industry ("being bought by"). Stymne has then responded by publicly reporting hus past and current industrial connections. Stymne has also been criticized by Greenpeace as a response to his criticism of a study sponsored by Greenpeace, conducted by Gilles-Éric Séralini at the University of Caen, where Greenpeace accuses Stymne of lacking relevant skills for his criticism of the study. [27] The same study has also received massive criticisms by, inter alia, the European Food Safety Authority whose analysis indicates that the Séralini-study suffers from serious errors and shortcomings in both methodology and data analysis. References 1949 births Living people Swedish biochemists Stockholm University alumni