Munich

European citizens hold more finely differentiated and balanced views on genetically modified foods than scientists and politicians give them credit for, says a study carried out for the European Commission.

False interpretations of what the public wants are largely responsible for the difficulties faced by European policy-makers in managing agricultural biotechnology, the study claims.

The study, Public Perceptions of Agricultural Biotechnologies in Europe, is based on an analysis of discussions held between 1998 and 2000 by 55 focus groups in Germany, France, Britain, Italy and Spain, as well as interviews with activists, scientists and others who are more directly involved with the agricultural biotechnology industry. It was coordinated by Brian Wynne, a sociologist at Lancaster University, UK, who established his reputation by using such methods to assess the public's perception of nuclear power in the 1980s.

“Almost all popular opinions on the alleged misperceptions about the alleged view of the 'man and woman on the street' turned out to be simply myths,” the study says. “Participants did not, overall, express entrenched opinions 'for' or 'against' genetically modified organisms.”

The researchers found that public mistrust of regulatory bodies such as food-safety agencies was the underlying basis of suspicions of agricultural biotechnology.

Better information will not, in itself, restore the public's trust in these regulators, the study concludes. Instead, it says that “more profound changes in institutional culture and practice” will be required. It suggests imposing heavy sanctions on companies or research institutions if any harm is caused by new technologies.

But Derek Burke, a retired molecular biologist and former chairman of the UK Advisory Committee on Novel Food and Processes, is sceptical about the study's findings, saying that he is uneasy about both its tone and its content. Burke argues that focus groups can easily be led towards a desired conclusion.

“This is an interesting contribution from a group of people with strong views,” says Burke. “But their arguments reflect no more than the current media coverage.”

→ http://www.pabe.net