The is no lack of studies showing GMO's are safe. However these studies have not really alleviated concerns of GMO's for many people. The article points out that a lot of the fears are general in nature and not necessarily a strong aversion to GMO's themselves. It is more of a human nature issue when we are confronted with something new and don't have a lot of knowledge yet. These are the same type of fears we have seen play out in the past with other technologies as well. Here are just a few of the points on the generalities of why people perceive GMO's as risky.
1. Familiarity: GMO's are new and when something is new we perceive more risk until we become more comfortable with it. The article has some great examples of other technologies that were feared by consumers. Pasteurization of milk was one, but I really liked the example of microwaves. Everyone has a microwave now, but in the 70's people were not buying them due to perceived risk.
2. Control: We perceive things we have control over as less risky. This brings up the issue of labeling. Labeling may be a viable option to let consumers feel they have more control and thus mitigate the risk they feel.
3. Big Companies: There is a perception that big companies are only out for money and not honest about what they are doing. There is a natural distrust among consumers that gets bigger as a company gets bigger. As someone who works for a big biotech company I would argue that big companies really do want to make a difference in the world. Bayer's mission statement is "Science for a Better Life" and everything I and my colleagues do is to try and fulfill that purpose. We are excited to make a discovery that may help farmers and consumers alike. We strive everyday to bring a game changer to the world that is going to makes lives better. I believe in that mission statement and work to fulfill it's promise. This big company perception also needs to be countered because universities and small companies are also starting make an large impact on bringing GMOs to the market and developing new technology.
The article is a good read. I think that the process of being more familiar with GMO's will lead to more widespread acceptance. But it is a slow process. Adoption rates of new technologies are not always fast. I found a showing chart that maps how long it has taken the US to adopt to some new technology in our past. It did not happen overnight. The good news is the adoption rates of technology have sped up through time. Maybe better means of communication and more education have helped with the speed increases of acceptance. In anybcase this trend gives me hope that the public will see GMO's just like the internet or a computer; a technology that is familiar and used everyday.
Give the aritcle a read:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2015/07/06/why-people-are-so-scared-of-gmos-according-to-someone-who-has-studied-the-fear-since-the-start/
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| https://hbr.org/2013/11/the-pace-of-technology-adoption-is-speeding-up/ |
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