The GM
controversy:
Eight theses
Comm4Biotech
18.11.2011, Susanne Benner
The GM controversy: Eight theses
The GM
controversy:
Eight theses
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The GM controversy: Eight theses
1. After decades the perception of GM plants has not improved
2. The general belief that GM plants can be introduced using good
communications strategies is wrong
3. Public knowledge about GM technology is not the limiting factor for acceptance
4. Convincing pro GM arguments have been hard to find
5. The GM debate is strongly ritualized
6. GM plants are an object of projection for several other conflicts and views
7. Public debate in the areas of red and white biotech is over
8. Only GM plant perceived to be of public benefit will bring the controversy to an
end
The GM
controversy:
Eight theses
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1. Thesis:
After decades the perception of GM plants has
not improved
The GM
controversy:
Eight theses
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Although more and more GM crops are grown…
Source: ISAAA 2011
The GM
controversy:
Eight theses
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…public opinion about GM foods is still sceptical
Percentage agreement “GM food should be encouraged”
Source: Eurobarometer; Gaskell 2010
The GM
controversy:
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…although it varies significantly between EU
states
Source: Eurobarometer; Gaskell 2010
The GM
controversy:
Eight theses
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2. Thesis:
The general belief that GM plants can be
introduced using good communication strategies
is wrong
The GM
controversy:
Eight theses
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Pro GM communication efforts did not yield
the expected results
Also the argument that it simply needs time and money is
wrong!
Benefit communication started in the mid 1990
• the German BioRegio program supported large
communication campaigns
• Millions of Euros were invested, e.g., in touring
biotech mobiles
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Has everything been tried in the EU?
Research institutions, industry, associations, schools, and individuals have been
heavily engaged in communicating the benefits of GMOs.
Communication experts and PR agencies developed numerous strategies
The GM
controversy:
Eight theses Informative Websites
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The GM
controversy:
Eight theses
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Exhibtions, games, videos, brochures, books…
©B
ASF
The GM
controversy:
Eight theses
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23 Hands-on biotech labs in Germany only!
©B
ASF
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BA
SF
©B
ASF
The GM
controversy:
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Showgardens and field visits
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ASF
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BA
SF
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gen
The GM
controversy:
Eight theses
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Blogs
The GM
controversy:
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3. Thesis:
Public knowledge about GM technology is not
the limiting factor for acceptance
The GM
controversy:
Eight theses
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Public knowledge about GM technology could be
improved…
Source: Eurobarometer 2005
yes no
The GM
controversy:
Eight theses
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…but is not the limiting factor
Source: Tilman Becker https://www.uni-hohenheim.de/fileadmin/ einrichtungen/marktlehre/Forschung/Verbraucherverhalten/gentech.pdf 1999; Melanie Connor http://www.plantsciences.ch/psc_events/Fachtagungen/presentations_2011/presentations_2011/connor, 2011
• The relationship between knowledge and acceptance is not clear
• Fears, emotions are crucial to the acceptance
• The higher the objective knowledge is, the lower the proportion of
undecided consumers
The GM
controversy:
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“Please tell me to what extent or not you are worried about
the following issues”
…because GM plants are perceived as a risk
that is personally not controllable
Source: Special Eurobarometer on Food 2010
The GM
controversy:
Eight theses
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4. Thesis:
Convincing pro GM arguments have been
hard to find
The GM
controversy:
Eight theses
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Convincing arguments would improve the
acceptance of GM food…
Source: Eurobarometer 2005
The GM
controversy:
Eight theses
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“Are you in favor or against Amflora cultivation in Germany
and its use in industrial applications?”
…since concrete benefits lead to significantly higher acceptance
43%
31%
26%
Support
Against
Undecided
Attitude towards Amflora cultivation
14%
49%
37%
Undecided
Support
Against
General attitude towards GM
Source: Allensbach 2007
The GM
controversy:
Eight theses
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…but the same arguments are being used since
decades
Source: Eurobarometer 2010
% respondents who agree or totally agree
that GM food should be encouraged
Support for GM food tending to
decline in several states
The GM
controversy:
Eight theses
22
…and the arguments will not change in the near
future
• There are only 2 products on the EU market: MON 810 and Amflora
• There are very few consumer products in the pipeline
• Breeding and GM focus is on yield primarily farmer benefits
Source: BASF 2011
The GM
controversy:
Eight theses
The market for consumer GM products is small in
comparison to GM crops delivering higher yields
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Source: BASF 2010
Consumers can´t experience GM food
The GM
controversy:
Eight theses
24
5. Thesis:
The GM debate is strongly ritualized
The GM
controversy:
Eight theses
25
Standard tool: panel discussions
1997 2011
The GM
controversy:
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26
The typical exchange of pros and cons
…which often end
with the conclusion:
“Many arguments,
and many open
questions”.
The GM
controversy:
Eight theses
27
Field testing public anti GMO happening
field destruction media attention
Irrespective of whether public
or private research, or safety or
coexistence studies, are
involved, there is a critical
mass of people who are willing
to destroy everything
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dym
edia
.org
The GM
controversy:
Eight theses
28
Pictures: They say more than words…
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ASF
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controversy:
Eight theses
29
…but also manifest biased opinions
©d
pa
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controversy:
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30
Search for “nanotechnology”
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controversy:
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31
Search for “Gentechnik“
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controversy:
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32
Search for “Microsoft“
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controversy:
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33
Search for “Monsanto“
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controversy:
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6. Thesis:
GM plants are an object of projection for several
other conflicts or views
The GM
controversy:
Eight theses
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Other conflicts or views have a negative impact on
the debate about GM plants
Anti-
Globalization
movement
“Back to nature”
movement
Mistrust against
multinationals and
governments
General
skepticism about
the future
Organic versus
GMOs
(coexistence)
Undefined safety
concerns
Rich-poor
conflict
Touching the
integrity of
Creation
Scepticism
towards modern
agriculture
GM plants
The GM
controversy:
Eight theses
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7. Thesis:
The public debate in the areas of red and white
biotech is over
The GM
controversy:
Eight theses
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Consumer products make the difference
Green biotech
(GMOs): Benefits still not obvious,
therefore lacking public
acceptance
Plants, e.g. Canola
Red (medical)
biotech
White (industrial)
biotech
Obvious benefits,
therefore public
acceptance
Drugs, e.g. Insulin
Enzyms, Vitamins, e.g. Chymosin
The GM
controversy:
Eight theses
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Red (medical)
biotech
Red biotech
• At least every second new drug is
produced with GMOs
• In Germany in 2010 198 drugs have
been approved which are produced
with GMOs
• Germany„s biotech-related sector
employes 250.000 people
Source: DIB, 2010
The GM
controversy:
Eight theses
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8. Thesis:
Only GM products perceived to be of public
benefit will bring the controversy to an end
The GM
controversy:
Eight theses
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“Contrary to scientific and industry opinion, the
European public see GM food as not offering benefits,
as unsafe, as inequitable and as worrying.”
Eurobarometer 2010
The GM
controversy:
Eight theses
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Golden Rice
Omega 3´
(EPA/DHA)
Allergic
protein free
peanuts
Drought
tolerant corn
Golden Rice Lycopene rich
tomatoes
There are very positive examples,
but they need to get to the market
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irco
soft
clip
arts
© M
irco
soft
clip
arts
© M
irco
soft
clip
arts
© M
irco
soft
clip
arts
© IR
RI
The GM
controversy:
Eight theses
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9. Thesis which is not a thesis but a
recommendation:
Get involved into the discussions!
Do not leave the field to the unscientific!
It might become similar in your research area.
The GM
controversy:
Eight theses
Thanks to my current employer,
the Max Planck Society,
thanks to my former
communications team at
BASF Plant Science
and
thank you!
Disclaimer: This presentation reflects my personal opinion. It should not be taken to
represent the policy of BASF Plant Science nor of the Max Planck Society.
Susanne Benner, November 18, 2011.