Mystic — A $5,000 gift from chemical giant Monsanto to the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center has generated a backlash among activist groups opposed to genetically modified organisms in the nation's food chain.

The activists, who worry that so-called "greenwashing" is going local, say they love the nature center and its executive director, Maggie Jones. But they worry that Monsanto is using the nature center to make the company look better on environmental issues than it actually is - which is a hallmark of greenwashing, employed most infamously by British Petroleum after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill off the Louisiana coast in 2010.

"When Monsanto gives money, they have an incentive," said Bob Burns, an organic farmer from Ledyard who leads the New London chapter of GMO Free CT. "All I want today is I want us to hear 'why?' Why the connection?"

Burns' comments came during a meeting late last week between nature center representatives and activists at Bean & Leaf coffee shop in New London. The meeting, emotional at times but never unfriendly, was attended by about 20 people, several of whom cited the effect of Monsanto's genetically modified seeds on human health and the ecosystem.

Activists charge that the safety of GMOs has never been extensively studied and that Monsanto has impeded the publication of long-term analyses concerning modified seeds' effects on people. Monsanto, on the other hand, has said GMOs are well studied and do not have any attendant health risks.

Jones defended the decision to accept funding from Monsanto, saying the nature center applied for a grant after an employee at the company's DeKalb Genetics plant in Mystic informed officials about it. There were no string attached to the money, which will be used to help fund a "Plant & Pollinators: Perfect Partners" educational program for first graders that teaches about bees, butterflies and bats, Jones said.

"Monsanto has absolutely nothing to do with the curriculum," which includes a discussion about the dangers of pesticides, she added.

But activists were concerned that Monsanto might use the nature center donation in marketing material, and Jones admitted she wouldn't have any control over how the company got out word about its association with the center. Activists after the meeting also said they were concerned about a nature center Facebook posting that cited "our friends at the Mystic Monsanto site" as well as a check-passing photo that featured Jones and Monsanto officials in the Mystic River Press.

Debra Cohen of Wethersfield, co-founder of Activate CT and a member of GMO Free CT, said any association with Monsanto was like dancing with the devil.

"Accepting the money gives them a story to tell," she said. "You're giving them the opportunity to tell a story that they are something other than what they really are."

Harry White, a volunteer fundraiser for the nature center, said it needs to reach a broad audience and therefore must look for diverse funding sources. The Monsanto donation represented only a small fraction of the nature center's annual funding, he added.

"As soon as we start rejecting donors ... we are (limiting) our mission and preaching to the choir," he said.

He cited issues of "policy, organizational independence and precedent" in doubting whether a nonprofit board should begin putting legal corporate practices through a litmus test before accepting donations.

But Mariellen French of Groton rejected the idea that just because a company's activities are technically legal no one should question its actions.

"All of us have a moral obligation to question anyone who says, 'Well, it's legal,'" she said.

In the end, Jones agreed to bring up the issue of the Monsanto donation at a future board meeting. Meanwhile, activists were asked to submit a summary of some of their concerns with Monsanto, and Burns also suggested the possibility of raising $5,000 to offset the cost of the nature center program - through direct donations and generating additional memberships at the nonprofit - in hopes that the board might return Monsanto's donation.

"I certainly hear you loud and clear," Jones said. "We are certainly not here to defend Monsanto."

Anti-GMO activist Patrick Kelley said Monday that he is hoping that the frank discussion last week opened a door to a stronger, more vibrant nature center in the years ahead. Activists said they plan to hold weekly meetings until the issue is resolved.

"I hope this turns into a beautiful message to the world," Kelley said. "I just want a happy ending so there is no harsh feelings."

l.howard@theday.com

Twitter: @KingstonLeeHow