Food Biotechnology Research Articles

U.S. consumer support for genetically modified foods: Time trends and assessments of four GM attributes

ABSTRACT There is a large literature about consumer acceptance of GM foods dating back almost three decades, but there are fewer studies that investigate how support for specific GM attributes contribute to general support for novel plant technologies. In addition, there is little information on how support has changed over time. Using survey data from 2018 to 2023 in a U.S. State (Vermont) (n = 3101), we analyze changes in support for a variety of GM attributes over time. There are three major findings. First, there is movement toward neutrality in support for various GM attributes, but opposition continues. Second, there is variability in support for different GM attributes. People are most supportive (least opposed) to GM attributes that improve flora (plant health or drought tolerance), and most opposed (least supportive) of attributes that impact fauna (specifically fish). Third, multivariate regression reveals that assessments of individual GM attributes contribute to levels of overall support of the use of GM technologies in agricultural production.

Threat or treat: Exposure assessment and risk characterisation of chemical contaminants in soft drinks and chocolate bars in various Polish population age groups.

In the frame of the European Food Risk Assessment (EU-FORA) fellowship programme, two studies on chemical contaminants in food matrices were carried out in Warsaw, Poland, at the Department of Food Safety and Chemical Analysis, Institute of Agricultural and Food Biotechnology. The first study addressed health concerns about the dietary exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) contamination due to consumption of soft drink by Polish population. BPA is an organic additive used in the production of epoxy resins and polycarbonate plastics and because of this it is used in the internal coating of cans and in plastic bottle production. Depending on several factors, BPA can migrate from these materials to the soft drink and so, it can be ingested by consumers causing hormonal and reproductive disorders. To estimate the Polish population exposure to BPA, several soft drinks belonging to different brands were purchased from a supermarket in the city of Warsaw and analysed. The result of the analysis highlight that mean BPA exposure in the Polish population exceeds the tolerable daily intake proposed by the EFSA scientific opinion, raising health concerns. On the other hand, the second study, focused on cadmium exposure due to chocolate consumption by Polish population, did not raise any health concern. Cadmium is a heavy metal that naturally occurs in its inorganic form in the environment and its presence in chocolate derives only from the cocoa beans and not from contamination during processing. Its accumulation in the human body can create several adverse effects, including renal dysfunction and failure. To estimate the Polish population exposure to cadmium, several chocolate bars were purchased from a supermarket in the city of Warsaw and analysed. The results of the analysis show that cadmium exposure in the Polish population does not exceed the tolerable weekly intake proposed by the EFSA scientific opinion.

SSI: Teachers Make STEM Concepts Relevant to Their Students

Socioscientific issues (SSI) are ill-defined problems that teachers could use to make STEM concepts meaningful and interesting for their students. However, it is challenging for most teachers to plan and implement SSI in their classrooms because they lack the knowledge and teaching repertoire. We conducted a qualitative case study of five teachers to answer our research question: How did teachers’ pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) of SSI develop by the end of the professional development program? Our analysis of interviews, video reflection, and lesson plans pointed to teachers’ PCK of understanding of students and instructional strategies as they engage their students in identifying the issue, considering issue system dynamics, and comparing multiple perspectives (social aspects of SSI). Our findings supported the teachers’ PCK model that Lee (2022) proposed particularly the knowledge of students’ SSI learning and teachers’ choices of teaching and learning strategies for a particular group of students. Specifically, the teachers in our case study were able to use SSI contexts such as GMO foods and effects of fast fashion (chemicals on manufacturing and discarding clothes) on water quality on students’ motivation to learn about the scientific and ethical debates on GMOs and water resources. Moreover, a teacher was able to ask students to consider issue system dynamics such as habits, culture, lifestyle, costs, and income when examining different food choices. They were also able to engage students in developing, testing and analyzing scientific phenomena such as the effect of chemical dyes in clothing on water and genetically modified foods. They were able to incorporate elucidating one’s position on SSI and employing reflective scientific skepticism in their lesson ideas. Finally, teachers in our study used videos, guided questions, town hall meeting presentations, investigations, and other active learning strategies with their students.

Visual Tools for Food Safety Assessment of Biotechnological Products

Food biotechnology, a revolutionary discipline, has transformed the way we produce, process and consume our food. It has enabled the development of new methods of crop genetic improvement, the creation of functional foods with health benefits, and the optimization of fermentation and food production processes. It has also provided innovative solutions to address the global challenges of food security and sustainability, while opening up new possibilities for nutrition and human health.

Effect of Nano-Silica and Sorbitol on the Properties of Chitosan-Based Composite Films.

Chitosan and its derivatives are widely used in food packaging, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical, textile, paper, agriculture, and environmental industries. However, the flexibility of chitosan films is extremely poor, which limits its relevant applications to a large extent. In this paper, chitosan/sorbitol/nano-silica (CS/sorbitol/SiO2) composite films were prepared by the casting film method using chitosan, sorbitol, Tween-80 and nano-SiO2 as raw materials. The structure of the films was characterized by infrared spectroscopy, electron scanning microscopy, and X-ray diffraction analysis. The effects of sorbitol and nano-silica dosage on the mechanical properties, thermal properties and water vapor barrier properties of the composite film were investigated. The results show that with the gradual increase in sorbitol (≤75 wt %), the elongation at the break of chitosan/sorbitol films significantly increased. When the addition of sorbitol was 75 wt %, the elongation at break of the chitosan/sorbitol composite film was 13 times higher than that of the chitosan film. Moreover, nano-SiO2 can further improve the mechanical properties and thermal stability of the chitosan/sorbitol composite films. When the amount of nano-silica was 4.5 wt %, the composite film became more flexible, with a maximum elongation of 90.8% (which is 14 times that of chitosan film), and its toughness increased to 10.52 MJm-3 (which is 6 times that of chitosan film). This study balances the tensile strength and elongation at break of the composite films by adding a plasticizer and nano-filler, providing a reference for the preparation of chitosan composites or their blending with other polymers, and has practical guiding significance for the industrial production of biomass plastics.

Parameters, practices, and preferences for regulatory review of emerging biotechnology products in food and agriculture.

This paper evaluates the U.S. regulatory review of three emerging biotechnology products according to parameters, practices, and endpoints of assessments that are important to stakeholders and publics. First, we present a summary of the literature on variables that are important to non-expert publics in governing biotech products, including ethical, social, policy process, and risk and benefit parameters. Second, we draw from our USDA-funded project results that surveyed stakeholders with subject matter expertise about their attitudes towards important risk, benefit, sustainability, and societal impact parameters for assessing novel agrifood technologies, including biotech. Third, we evaluate the regulatory assessments of three food and agricultural biotechnology case studies that have been reviewed under U.S. regulatory agencies and laws of the Coordinated Framework for the Regulation of Biotechnology, including gene-edited soybeans, beef cattle, and mustard greens. Evaluation of the regulatory review process was based on parameters identified in steps 1 and 2 which were deemed important to both publics and stakeholders. Based on this review, we then propose several policy options for U.S. federal agencies to strengthen their oversight processes to better align with a broader range of parameters to support sustainable agrifood products that rely on novel technologies. These policy options include 1) those that would not require new institutions or legal foundations (such as conducting Environmental Impact Statements and/or requiring a minimal level of safety data), 2) those that would require a novel institutional or cross-institutional framework (such as developing a publicly-available website and/or performing holistic sustainability assessments), and 3) those that would require the agencies to have additional legal authorities (such as requiring agencies to review biotech products according to a minimal set of health, environmental, and socio-economic parameters). Overall, the results of this analysis will be important for guiding policy practice and formulation in the regulatory assessment of emerging biotechnology products that challenge existing legal and institutional frameworks.

Trans-grafting plum pox virus resistance from transgenic plum rootstocks to apricot scions.

Trans-grafting could be a strategy to transfer virus resistance from a transgenic rootstock to a wild type scion. However contradictory results have been obtained in herbaceous and woody plants. This work was intended to determine if the resistance to sharka could be transferred from transgenic plum rootstocks to wild-type apricot scions grafted onto them. To this end, we conducted grafting experiments of wild- type apricots onto plum plants transformed with a construction codifying a hairpin RNA designed to silence the PPV virus and studied if the resistance was transmitted from the rootstock to the scion. Our data support that the RNA-silencing-based PPV resistance can be transmitted from PPV-resistant plum rootstocks to non-transgenic apricot scions and that its efficiency is augmented after successive growth cycles. PPV resistance conferred by the rootstocks was robust, already occurring within the same growing cycle and maintained in successive evaluation cycles. The RNA silencing mechanism reduces the relative accumulation of the virus progressively eliminating the virus from the wild type scions grafted on the transgenic resistant PPV plants. There was a preferential accumulation of the 24nt siRNAs in the scions grafted onto resistant rootstocks that was not found in the scions grafted on the susceptible rootstock. This matched with a significantly lower relative accumulation of hpRNA in the resistant rootstocks compared with the susceptible or the tolerant ones. Using transgenic rootstocks should mitigate public concerns about transgenes dispersion and eating transgenic food and allow conferring virus resistance to recalcitrant to transformation cultivars or species.

Artificial intelligence in food biotechnology: trends and perspectives

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the creation of intelligent systems able to execute specific tasks which would normally need human intelligence to function. Today, AI is widely used to assist research and development in industrial biotechnology. Many biotech firms rely on AI tools. The food industry is among the industrial sectors where AI has only recently been explored. AI enhances food biotechnology by supporting food enzymes engineering, microbial metabolic engineering, food safety and, in general, food microbiology. The use of AI tools in the food industry ranges from food processing – including all aspects of the production of food ingredients – to food quality and safety. This paper highlights the emerging importance of AI in some specific sectors of food biotechnology: development of new process-aid enzymes, precision fermentation, food safety and toxicity, food microbiology, and the study of the interplay between food and gut microbiome. These represent only a few examples of the myriad of applications that AI is seeing and will see in the food biotech sector. This Perspective paper intends to stimulate the discussion around the intricate relationship between AI and such research topics.

Belgian dietitians' knowledge, perceptions and willingness-to-recommend of genetically modified food and organisms.

Dietitians play a critical role in the public's relationship with food and are often overlooked as an important stakeholder group in the general debate about sustainable food. Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are one type of modern food source that could contribute to a more sustainable food system. This case study is the first to examine the knowledge, perception and willingness-to-recommend (WTR) genetically modified (GM) foods by dietitians in Europe. An online survey was addressed to all members of the Flemish Association of Dietitians (Belgium) in 2021, resulting in a sample of 98 valid responses. Multivariate linear regression included sociodemographic, knowledge, and attitudinal factors as the independent variables to explain dietitians' WTR. Flemish dietitians had limited knowledge of GMOs; only about half of the GM questions were answered correctly. Most dietitians (53%-76%) would recommend GMOs with positive effects on human nutrition or sustainability, whereas few dietitians (19%-27%) would recommend other GMO applications. Trust in GMO information sources and perceived GM benefits significantly influenced a positive WTR of GM foods. Predominant negative information about GM foods was significantly associated with dietitians' low trust and WTR such foods. Countering the predominantly negative portrayal with more neutral and factual information could improve trust, which in turn could positively influence dietitians' perceptions towards GMOs. By further examining the knowledge and perception of dietitians worldwide GMOs and gene-edited products, new insights could be could gathered into the positioning of this underexposed stakeholder group.

Bioluminescent monitoring of recombinant lactic acid bacteria and their products.

Lactic acid bacteria constitute a genetically diverse group of microorganisms with significant roles in the food industry, biotechnology, agriculture, and medicine. A core understanding of bacterial physiology in diverse environments is crucial to select and develop bacteria for industrial and medical applications. However, there is a lack of versatile tools to track (recombinant) protein production in lactic acid bacteria. In this study, we adapted a peptide-based bioluminescent tagging system that is functional across multiple genera and species. This system enables tracking of tagged proteins both in vitro and in situ, while it also can be used to enumerate recombinant bacteria from the mouse gastrointestinal tract with accuracy comparable to that of conventional plate counts. Our work expands the lactic acid bacteria genetic toolbox and will facilitate researchers in industry and academia with opportunities to monitor microbes and proteins under different physiologically relevant conditions.

The use of high humidity disperse fraction of jerusalem artichoke developed by its processing into alcohol in the food extrusion technology

The chemical composition and agrotechnical characteristics of Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) determine the wide prospects for its use in various branches of the processing industry, including food biotechnology. The aim of the study was to determine the possibility to use Jerusalem artichoke processed products from various stages of alcohol production in native form without drying in the technology of extruded products and to assess the impact of the raw material selection stage on extrusion modes and quality indicators of the finished product. In the course of the experimental work, Jerusalem artichoke tubers were processed into alcohol, samples of the high-moisture dispersed fraction of Jerusalem artichoke were taken from different stages of the process. These fractions were added in an amount of 15 % without pre-drying into the mixture for extrusion based on rice groats. The obtained extrudates were dried and their structural-mechanical, color characteristics and nutritional value were determined. The control sample was without the addition of Jerusalem artichoke additives. It has been established that during the extrusion of test samples, compared with the control, the expansion index and the number of microfractures significantly decrease. These data show that with the addition of Jerusalem artichoke fractions, the samples become less porous, their crispness decreases. The expansion index of all experimental samples decreased by 42-49 %. The maximum hardness of 22.9 N, which is 56 % higher than the control value, was noted for a sample with a fraction taken after the fermentation stage. The use of food additives of Jerusalem artichoke from the stages of hydromechanical processing and after fermentation, added in the amount of 15 % to the mixture for extrusion, significantly, by 52-61 %, increased the content of dietary fiber. More promising is the use of Jerusalem artichoke as an ingredient after a full cycle of its processing into alcohol, which makes it possible to enrich the product with microbiological protein of alcohol yeast biomass and increase the total protein content.

Is Chinese consumers' attitude toward genetically modified foods bouncing back?

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the dynamic of consumers' perceptions of GM food and explore whether their knowledge of GM technology is associated with a significant change.Design/methodology/approachThis paper presents a meta-analysis of 156 primary studies reporting a total of 225 attitudes toward genetically modified foods. To identify the impact of consumers' knowledge of GM technology, the authors estimate multivalued treatment effects model.FindingsThe results of this study show that consumers' attitudes show a U shape during 2001–2022. That is, the rise in opposition to genetically modified foods has been reversed. In addition, this study also shows that the increase in consumers' knowledge of genetically modified technology contributes to their changes in attitude.Originality/valueThis paper is the first study that empirically investigates the dynamics of Chinese consumers' attitude to genetically modified foods, and shows the rise in opposition to genetically modified foods has been reversed, which has important implication for commercialization of genetically modified crops in China.

Deconstruction of science hegemony: discursive strategies of Chinese science communication on genetically modified foods

ABSTRACT This study analyzes Chinese online science communication and discussion about genetically modified foods (GMFs). Based on data collected from one of the largest Chinese GMFs science popularization website, it utilizes Wodak’s discourse analysis to investigate how Chinese genetically modified (GM) scientific discourse is characterized by a range of discursive strategies that construct specific identity of Chinese GM scientists and explore science hegemony underlying Chinese GMFs debates. Findings show that discourse features of Chinese GM scientific discourse is objective as well as emotional, particularly conveying a strong sense of superiority realized by trope, argumentative strategies and intertextuality. The unequal power relationship between scientists and the public as well as Chinese intellectuals’ knowledge hegemony could partly explain why those discursive strategies are employed in science communication practices of GMFs debates in Chinese context.

Pemberdayaan Masyarakat Miskin Ekstrem dalam Pengolahan Produk Bioteknologi Pangan Daun Kelor sebagai Upaya Penanganan Stunting

The purpose of this community service is to enhance the knowledge and skills of the extreme poverty citizens in the Rantau Sub-district of Aceh Tamiang Regency through the utilization of moringa leaves. As the local potential, moringa leaves can be processed into innovative biotechnological food products in order to address stunting. The method used for implementing this community service was society-participatory-based training. The instrument used for evaluation was questionnaires. The results of this community service show an excellent improvement in society’s knowledge (82.93%) regarding the utilization of moringa leaves as food to address stunting. In addition, the community members have acquired the skills to produce some biotechnological food products, such as moringa chocolate, moringa tea, moringa cookies, moringa sticks, moringa pudding, and moringa milk.

Consumers’ risk perception and willingness to pay for abnormally shaped vegetables in China

Abstract Technology in food production is constantly evolving and advancing, and the emerging genetically modified (GM) technology is making a significant contribution to solving the world’s food problems. However, sporadic food safety incidents and negative media coverage have caused Chinese consumers to remain apprehensive about the safety of food and GM technology, even to the extent that they are reluctant to buy vegetables in unusual shapes because they believe the vegetables are produced by GM technology. This paper examines this negative association with GM food. The results show that when seeing an abnormally shaped vegetable, consumers perceive that the vegetable is likely to be genetically modified, thus increasing their perceived risk. In order to estimate the mediation effect, we adopted the causal step approach using an ordered probit model. To investigate consumers’ preferences for attributes of vegetables, we employed a choice experiment, stochastic parametric logit models and latent class logit models. Apart from price, consumers place the highest importance on appearance attributes, followed by traceability attributes, and then safety certification attributes. There is also heterogeneity in consumer preferences. Consumers’ characteristics such as age, marital status and family size influence their preferences. The findings of this paper suggest that traceability labelling and safety certification labelling can be useful in addressing information asymmetry in food safety and can increase consumer utility and improve their trust in the safety of the food they buy.

Consumption of Genetically Modified Food Products and Its Determinants (Case Study: Edible Oil in Mashhad).

In recent decades, the global increase in the demand for food and the increasing growth of the world population has caused an inevitable transition from traditional to advanced agriculture and the use of new technologies in the production of food and agricultural products. One of the new achievements of biotechnology is the production and use of genetically modified plants. The benefits of genetically modified crops can be seen well beyond the farm as well, from helping to conserve natural resources to fighting climate change. Identifying the factors that influence people's acceptance of genetically modified (GM) foods can inform industries and policymakers regarding their innovation trajectories, as well as policy development and implementation. Therefore, the current research evaluates the effect of the marketing mix and other effective factors on the consumption of genetically modified (GM) edible oil in Mashhad, Iran. The required information was collected by completing 390 questionnaires and using the available sampling method in 2022. Factors affecting the probability of consumers making a decision to consume GM edible oil and the consumption amounts of this oil were analyzed through Heckman's two-stage Tobit model using the STATA 16 software package. The results showed that factors affecting the intention of consuming GM edible oils are different from factors affecting the amount of consumption of GM edible oils. Moreover, selected marketing mixes have a significant effect on the amount of consumption of GM edible oils, and therefore, policy-makers can influence the consumption of GM edible oils by using marketing tools. The effect of household monthly income on the consumption of GM edible oil is also negative and significant, which shows that households with higher incomes have less consumption of GM edible oils. Based on the results, trust in the government has a positive and significant effect on the consumption of GM edible oil, so when consumers have trust in their government about GM food products, the consumption of GM edible oil will increase. Therefore, it is suggested that the country's food security authorities gain the trust of consumers by clarifying the production process of GM products and holding scientific debates between the proponents and opponents of the production and consumption of GM food products in order to express the advantages and disadvantages of these products to inform consumers and help them choose between products.

Citrus By-Products as a Valuable Source of Biologically Active Compounds with Promising Pharmaceutical, Biological and Biomedical Potential.

Citrus fruits processing results in the generation of huge amounts of citrus by-products, mainly peels, pulp, membranes, and seeds. Although they represent a major concern from both economical and environmental aspects, it is very important to emphasize that these by-products contain a rich source of value-added bioactive compounds with a wide spectrum of applications in the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. The primary aim of this review is to highlight the great potential of isolated phytochemicals and extracts of individual citrus by-products with bioactive properties (e.g., antitumor, antimicrobial, antiviral, antidiabetic, antioxidant, and other beneficial activities with health-promoting abilities) and their potential in pharmaceutical, biomedical, and biological applications. This review on citrus by-products contains the following parts: structural and chemical characteristics; the utilization of citrus by-products; bioactivities of the present waxes and carotenoids, essential oils, pectins, and phenolic compounds; and citrus by-product formulations with enhanced biocactivities. A summary of the recent developments in applying citrus by-products for the treatment of different diseases and the protection of human health is also provided, emphasizing innovative methods for bioaccessibility enhancements (e.g., extract/component encapsulation, synthesis of biomass-derived nanoparticles, nanocarriers, or biofilm preparation). Based on the representative phytochemical groups, an evaluation of the recent studies of the past six years (from 2018 to 2023) reporting specific biological and health-promoting activities of citrus-based by-products is also provided. Finally, this review discusses advanced and modern approaches in pharmaceutical/biological formulations and drug delivery (e.g., carbon precursors for the preparation of nanoparticles with promising antimicrobial activity, the production of fluorescent nanoparticles with potential application as antitumor agents, and in cellular imaging). The recent studies implementing nanotechnology in food science and biotechnology could bring about new insights into providing innovative solutions for new pharmaceutical and medical discoveries.

Preliminary assessment of the safety of genetically modified food products

Numerous studies on genetically modified food products indicate their safety and their potential to alleviate hunger worldwide. However, the issue of GM products and feeds remains relevant in the realm of food security. The purpose of this study is to present a comprehensive scheme of methods for determining the safety of GM food products and to develop a new method for assessing the safety of GM food products. This new method is based on the use of a biotest and the employment of Paramecium caudatum infusoria. In the study, GTS 40-3 and GTS 40-3-2 (Venus variety) soybeans, MON 00603 (NK 603) maize line, and non-GMO soybeans and maize were used as controls. Infusoria were prepared by culturing them in room temperature water (18- 23°C) without direct sunlight, with the addition of non-GMO yeast powder as a nutrient solution and senna extract. Subsequently, the initial material containing approximately 100 infusoria was transferred to 100 ml flasks and incubated for 2-3 days. At the initial stage of the experiment, from day 1 to day 15, daily records and visual assessments were conducted. The assessment included the quantity of infusoria, motility (chemotaxis), size, shape, and the percentage of dead infusoria. Venus soybeans (GTS 40-3-2) exhibited a toxic effect on the protozoa, which died in repeated trials on the 14th-15th day of feeding. It was observed that infusoria fed with soybeans containing the GTS 40-3-2 (Venus) transformation event changed their shape after 3 days from the start of the experiment. Over the course of 10 days from the beginning of the study, a decrease in movement, motility, and the quantity of infusoria was noted. On the 14th-15th day, mortality was observed. Negative changes were also observed in infusoria that were fed with MON 00603 (NK 603) maize. The application of this method in the practice of assessing the safety of GM food products can provide a preliminary evaluation of long-term effects over a relatively short period

South African consumers’ knowledge of genetically modified (GM) food products and influences that affect the purchasing decision of GM foods

Prevailing food insecurity has necessitated the leveraging of alternative food products if the Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG2), referring to zero hunger for the worldwide population, is to be achieved. Although the production of genetically modified (GM) plant-based crops has been adopted in South Africa (SA), and available for human consumption, a dearth of research exists in respect of SA consumers’ knowledge of, and the influences that affect the purchase of GM food products. An exploratory survey study design included 326 consumers, purposefully selected through snowball sampling from Mooi river, in KwaZulu-Natal province, SA. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was used to identify underlying drivers for the knowledge and influences on the purchase decisions of GM food products. It was found that although respondents were aware of GM food products and understood the meaning of “genetically modified”, they lacked general knowledge about GM food products, reflected in the minimal scope of their knowledge and uncertainty of GM components present in food products as identified through an EFA. Consideration for purchasing would include the potential to increase food supplies, the reduced usage of pesticides, carcinogenic effects, allergenicity, harmful effect on the environment, longer shelf life and the unnatural development of GM food products. Through EFA, consumption and production implications, consumer advantages, product identification elements, and agricultural pesticide practices were underlying drivers of the influencers of consumers’ GM food product purchasing decisions. Food insecurity could persist if GM consumer education is not re-introduced in SA to address consumer apathy and sense of disengagement towards GM food products. This is attributed to the limited consumer knowledge about GM food products. This study has contributed towards a better understanding of the current consumer perspective on GM food products and what it will take to turn the GM food product aversion into informed consumer decisions and practices. Future research in SA is needed to determine the demographic profile of consumers and how that will influence GM food product purchases in the wake of addressing food security. Key words: food insecurity, food security, GM agriculture, consumer education

Perceptions of the Governance of the Technological Risks of Food Innovations for Addressing Food Security

Food and nutrition insecurity continue to risk the lives and wellbeing of millions of people throughout the world today. Further, food and nutrition insecurity are still major challenges in Kenya and have triggered the adoption of a number of modern biotechnologies for agricultural transformation. Consequently, many food technologies have been approved to secure sustainable access to food for millions of people. This study investigated the perceptions and implementation of two technologies for addressing food insecurity in Kenya, namely, genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and the use of antibiotics in livestock production. In particular, the study explored how their implementation can be governed responsibly through approved legislation. Therefore, the knowledge, attitudes and practices, as well as the governance, of GMO technology and antibiotic resistance risks were assessed. In-depth key interviews were conducted for a qualitative survey with triangulation using quantitative data sources. The findings showed that 46% of the population have limited knowledge about GMO technology, with about 79% indicating that foods with GM ingredients were already being consumed in the country despite the government ban. The majority of respondents agree that GMOs can contribute to an increase in the global food supply (65%), make food affordable (57%) and produce more nutritious foods (50%). Further, most agree that GMOs can produce crops more resistant to pests and reduce pesticide use on food crop plants (89). The main concerns reported regarding GMO technology by most respondents included the impact on the environment and human health and the adverse effects on traditional farming practices. About 36% of these respondents indicated that the technology diminishes traditional farming technologies, and 32% reported that it contributes to loss of biodiversity. Notably, 64% reported that GMO technology is a solution to food security and that GM foods are safe. Regarding the use of antimicrobials mainly meant to prevent diseases and access better markets, respondents perceived their use to be associated with a “large level of risk” of antimicrobial resistance (score of 2 on a scale of 1–3) (M = 1.85, SD = 1.06). A total of 56% of the respondents reported that the efforts towards promoting awareness of antibiotic resistance risks and their associated effects on human health are relatively limited. Our findings show that most of the respondents have only observed minimal awareness campaigns. Regarding the governance of the two technologies, 71% and 50% of the respondents reported that scientists and elected officials, respectively, have the greatest roles in the governance of GMOs, with small-scale farmers playing a negligible role. These findings are crucial to the advancement of food innovations that are geared towards achieving food security in Kenya as they highlight the risks associated with the poor governance and implementation of technologies. Therefore, there is a need for a framework for technological risk governance that is sensitive to local values and socio-economic circumstances and that will facilitate the achievement of food security goals.