Going Forward in Education on Agricultural Biotechnology: Extension’s Role Internationally

Abstract

The development of agricultural biotechnology has proceeded rapidly amidst public controversy over the ethics of genetic manipulation and the required level of regulation. The role of extension traditionally has been to provide unbiased, research-based information to the public on agricultural issues. This paper reviews a case study in which the Florida Education Initiative for Agricultural Biotechnology (FEIAB) project is examined. The project was initiated with a needs assessment of domestic (Florida extension agents) and international extension stakeholders in 2001 in the area of extension education in agricultural biotechnology. Based on the needs expressed in the survey and related literature on communication of technologies, a web site was developed to provide both extension and the public with information on the issues surrounding agricultural biotechnology. The needs assessment revealed that there were significant differences between domestic and international stakeholders with respect to training needed in order to facilitate public discussion and view of extension’s role in public education. Respondents’ views also differed as to the role that extension should play in agricultural biotechnology. The results of this study suggest that perceptions of technology may not be value-neutral, and that international extensionists may need to re-examine their role in the communication of agricultural biotechnology.