Public perceptions of agricultural biotechnology--a nonsocial science perspective.

Abstract

Public acceptance will play a major role in determining whether modern agricultural biotechnology continues to expand (Abelson and Hines 1999). The is not monolithic. There are several publics, ranging from scientists involved in agricultural biotechnology research to those opposed to anything science has to offer. Additionally, views on biotechnology in general differ by country, region, and socioeconomic group (Hoban 1997). Consumer acceptance can be influenced by education, government responses to biotechnology issues, and the efforts of activist groups opposed to biotechnology, the last probably being the most influential (Hoban 1997, 1998). That consumers need background information is illustrated by survey results showing a significant fraction of respondents holding to the belief that a nontransgenic tomato does not have genes (Hoban 1999). Effective communication is vital to the development of rational oversight of technology. Laws are made by elected officials, not scientists, and politicians are easily swayed by their perceptions of public opinion. Political decisions are not always rational, since public emotions can easily be influenced by irrational arguments. As Hoban (1997) observed, vagueness, anxiety, fear, or abhorrence often prevails over rational judgment. Incorrect or hostile commentary about certain kinds of research spreads quickly. Key to promoting wise political decisions about scientific matters is improved understanding of science among public leaders, the general population, and the media. Von Wartburg and Liew (1999) suggested that society's acceptance of any new technology is determined by many rational and emotional factors influ-