Messages promoting genetic modification of crops in the context of climate change: Evidence for psychological reactance

Abstract

Genetic modification (GM) of crops and climate change are arguably two of today's most challenging science communication issues. Increasingly, these two issues are connected in messages proposing GM as a viable option for ensuring global food security threatened by climate change. This study examines the effects of messages promoting the benefits of GM in the context of climate change. Further, it examines whether explicit reference to "climate change," or "global warming" in a GM message results in different effects than each other, or an implicit climate reference. An online sample of U.S. participants (N = 1050) were randomly assigned to one of four conditions: "climate change" cue, "global warming" cue, implicit cue, or control (no message). Generally speaking, framing GM crops as a way to help ensure global food security proved to be an effective messaging strategy in increasing positive attitudes toward GM. In addition, the implicit cue condition led to liberals having more positive attitudes and behavioral intentions toward GM than the "climate change" cue condition, an effect mediated by message evaluations.

Controlled‐release fertilizer based on poly(butylene succinate)/urea/clay and its effect on lettuce growth

“…Most of them are expected to live a poverty life, even facing starvation . Alternatives to mitigate this almost hopeless situation must pass through new technologies, such as the use of integrated pest management, genetically modified crops, new biocontrol techniques including bioremediation of degraded areas, and the smarter use of fertilizers …”

Conflict of Interest Mitigation Procedures May Have Little Influence on the Perceived Procedural Fairness of Risk‐Related Research

“…This is consistent with several past studies and the argument that, in practice, it is often difficult to differentiate non-outcome fairness dimensions. (6,(31)(32)(33) While not directly tested here, it may also be useful to recognize that both theory (34) and empirical research (35,34) suggest that fairness largely matters because it represents a heuristic cue that people can use in situations where there is no clear 'correct' outcome. This means, for example, that people are unlikely to draw on fairness process judgements when assessing decision-making for which the individual sees a clear, moral answer.…”

Effects of Genetically Modified corn on human health

“…Genetic modification is a specific part of gene technology that changes the genetic structure of living organisms, such as animals, plants, or microorganisms [8]. The combination of genes from different organisms is recognized as recombinant DNA technology and the product is called genetically modified, transgenic or transgenic [9]. The production of commercial crops has become a controversial issue in global trade and development by using various techniques such as gene transfer and the expression of recombinant genes in recent years.…”