Resistance to agricultural biotechnology: The importance of distinguishing between weak and strong public attitudes

Aerni, Philipp

doi:10.1002/biot.201300188

Cited by 20 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Additionally, despite a voiced negative attitude toward GM food by a majority of European consumers, over 50% of respondents did not actively avoid purchase of GM foods, even in EU countries where a small number of such products is on the market [ 36 ]. The almost complete absence of GM food products in the European market, thus, cannot be explained by unanimous consumer rejection, but rather by marketing decisions of the food retailers [ 41 ].…”

Section: Consumer Attitudes Towards Gm Crops and Gm Foodmentioning

confidence: 99%

Public Acceptance of Plant Biotechnology and GM Crops

Lucht

2015

Viruses

336

222

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A wide gap exists between the rapid acceptance of genetically modified (GM) crops for cultivation by farmers in many countries and in the global markets for food and feed, and the often-limited acceptance by consumers. This review contrasts the advances of practical applications of agricultural biotechnology with the divergent paths—also affecting the development of virus resistant transgenic crops—of political and regulatory frameworks for GM crops and food in different parts of the world. These have also shaped the different opinions of consumers. Important factors influencing consumer’s attitudes are the perception of risks and benefits, knowledge and trust, and personal values. Recent political and societal developments show a hardening of the negative environment for agricultural biotechnology in Europe, a growing discussion—including calls for labeling of GM food—in the USA, and a careful development in China towards a possible authorization of GM rice that takes the societal discussions into account. New breeding techniques address some consumers’ concerns with transgenic crops, but it is not clear yet how consumers’ attitudes towards them will develop. Discussions about agriculture would be more productive, if they would focus less on technologies, but on common aims and underlying values.

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Section: Consumer Attitudes Towards Gm Crops and Gm Foodmentioning

confidence: 99%

Public Acceptance of Plant Biotechnology and GM Crops

Lucht

2015

Viruses

336

222

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“…These engineered varieties are extreme examples of apparently effective genotypic manipulations to reduce mismatch to specific environments. However, societal acceptance is an important factor, and GE crops remain controversial (51,52). They have not been adopted widely in some regions including Europe, where alternative manipulations of evolutionary mismatch, such as use of non-GE lines with some degree of tolerance, pesticide applications and integrated pest management serve as alternative genotypic and environmental manipulations (53).…”

Section: Successes and Prospects In Applied Evolutionary Biologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Applying evolutionary biology to address global challenges

Carroll

Jørgensen

Kinnison

et al. 2014

Science

254

241

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Two categories of evolutionary challenges result from escalating human impacts on the planet. The first arises from cancers, pathogens and pests that evolve too quickly, and the second from the inability of many valued species to adapt quickly enough. Applied evolutionary biology provides a suite of strategies to address these global challenges that threaten human health, food security, and biodiversity. This review highlights both progress and gaps in genetic, developmental and environmental manipulations across the life sciences that either target the rate and direction of evolution, or reduce the mismatch between organisms and human-altered environments. Increased development and application of these underused tools will be vital in meeting current and future targets for sustainable development.

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“…Costa-Font and Gil 2009;Rollin et al 2011;Rowe 2004;Verdurme and Viaene 2003a). Many researchers claim that GM products are at least as safe as conventional alternatives (Aerni 2013;Economidis et al 2010;Nicolia et al 2014). However, the general public does not always follow this line of reasoning and generally associates GM with high risks and low benefits, specifically in the case of GMF (Hossain and Onyango 2004;Pidgeon et al 2005).…”

Section: Perceived Risks and Benefitsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Variables Affecting Secondary School Students’ Willingness to Eat Genetically Modified Food Crops

et al. 2017

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A large-scale cross-sectional study (N = 4002) was set up to determine Flemish secondary school students' willingness to eat genetically modified food (WTE) and to link students' WTE to previously identified key variables from research on the acceptance of genetic modification (GM). These variables include subjective and objective knowledge about genetics and biotechnology, perceived risks and benefits of GM food crops, trust in information from different sources about GM, and food neophobia. Differences between WTE-related variables based on students' grade level, educational track, and gender were analyzed. The students displayed a rather indecisive position toward GM food and scored weakly on a genetics and biotechnology knowledge test. WTE correlated most strongly with perceived benefits and subjective and objective knowledge. The results have clear implications for education, as they reiterate the need to strengthen students' scientific knowledge base and to introduce a GM-related debate at a much earlier stage in their school career.

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Resistance to agricultural biotechnology: The importance of distinguishing between weak and strong public attitudes

Cited by 20 publications

References 16 publications

Public Acceptance of Plant Biotechnology and GM Crops

Public Acceptance of Plant Biotechnology and GM Crops

Applying evolutionary biology to address global challenges

Variables Affecting Secondary School Students’ Willingness to Eat Genetically Modified Food Crops

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