Academic scientists who study genetically altered crops have filed a complaint with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency saying that intellectual-property restrictions imposed by biotechnology companies are inhibiting them from conducting research on the environmental impact and effectiveness of such crops.

According to today’s New York Times, dozens of scientists have put their concerns in a statement to the EPA that they submitted in advance of some scientific meetings the agency will hold next week on biotech crops.

“No truly independent research can be legally conducted on many critical questions,” the scientists wrote in the statement.

The scientists withheld their names from the statement, saying they feared the criticism would prompt the companies to cut off funds for research, but the Times article includes comments from several researchers who signed and were willing to be identified. —Goldie Blumenstyk