Public opinion on genetic modification in the UK could be shifting towards a more moder- ate and accepting stance, a new survey suggests.
Production of bio-fortified rice with enhanced levels of vitamin A received strong consumer support given that a high amount of vita- min A helps guard against malnu- trition and potential blindness.
Wheat production with reduced susceptibility to aphids was also well received, and a smaller number of people supported the use of GM to delay melon ripening and therefore to prolong shelf life.
However, almost a quarter that answered said they were neither supportive nor unsupportive, or put “don’t know”.
ôè°te British Science Association (BSA) revealed the results of its survey at a panel debate on GM at the opening of this week’s National Science and Engineering Week.
Scientific adviser at the ESRC Innogen Centre, professor Joyce Tait, said: “ôè°tere seems to have been a move away from the extremes to the middle ground with answers oôè°€en being catego- rised as ‘don’t know’.
“ôè°tat neutral ground seemed to happen across the board, across questions, whether it was ‘should GM be encouraged’ or whether it helped the UK economy, to whether it is safe for future generations - there seems to have been a migration to this middle ground. I didn’t see that as a challenge to do more public engagement, rather I saw that to mean that it was becoming less contentious.”
Professor Maurice Moloney, chief executive of Rothamsted Research, disagreed with Tait.
He said: “The large number of neither agree nor dis- agree answers suggests that scientists still have much work to do in public engagement.”
Scientists found 30 per cent of those questioned agreed developing GM foods was wrong in principle.
ôè°te study also found men and women differ in their outlook with more men supporting the use of GM.
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