GM Food: Europeans Still See More Risks than Benefits

Faith in biotechnology… but little appetite for GM food

Europeans are becoming increasingly optimistic about biotechnology, as has been the trend in the EU since 1999. Support is especially strong for medical applications of biotechnology, as long as there are clear benefits for human health. Many Europeans also support industrial applications of biotechnology, also known as “white” biotechnology. As examples the survey discussed ethanol fuel production, biodegradable plastics, and transgenic plants designed to produce pharmaceuticals. Even the controversial field of stem cell research is widely supported in Europe, provided it is tightly regulated.

According to the study, confidence in the European Union’s regulation of biotechnology is on the rise. Nonetheless, this doesn’t seem to have changed Europeans’ purchasing intentions – especially when it comes to Europe’s distaste for GM food. Even the EU’s recently overhauled regulatory framework for GMO authorisation and labelling has yet to make Europeans more accepting of food made from genetically engineered plants. In fact, only 27 percent of survey participants believe that the technology behind GM foods should be encouraged (see upper left). It seems that most consumers have a hard time seeing any clear benefits associated with genetically engineered crops. Meanwhile, the public is clearly concerned about potential risks to human health and the environment.

A Patchwork of Attitudes toward GM Food in the EU

The acceptance of genetically modified foods in Europe has been shifting significantly over the years. After a period of rising scepticism from 1996 to 1999, an increase in support was observed with the 2002 study. Since 2002, the support for GM foods has taken another downturn. For more and more people, the perceived risks of GM food outweigh the benefits.

Looking at a subset of participants considered “decided” on the issue, acceptance of GM foods across Europe stands at 42 percent (see middle left). Of the “decided” subset, supporters outnumber opponents in Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Malta, the Czech Republic, and Lithuania. In contrast, supporters are few and far between especially in Austria, Greece, Hungary, Germany, and Latvia.