• Question: Do you think that our society has the wrong impression about genetic research, and, if so, who do you think is to blame for branding the industry with a bad name?

    Asked by to Claire on 17 Jun 2014. This question was also asked by .
    • Photo: Claire Shooter

      Claire Shooter answered on 17 Jun 2014:

      Hi, great question!

      I think people are very well informed about a lot of things these days, but GMO crops seem to be a big sticking point for some people. Ours is a world of finite space and resources, and feeding ourselves is becoming a real problem. People don’t like the idea of GMO in case it causes unchecked modified crops to take over, or in case the crops have unforseen properties such as turning into Triffids and killing us all. People also seem to associate GMO products with health risks and cancer.

      I think it is wise to treat new scientific developments with caution: that’s why GMO crops are tested extensively for any potential problems – no scientist really wants to be that person who wiped out corn with his unpalletable noxious supercorn. If we want to keep breeding and consuming at our current level GMO crops will help sustain us AND help sustain the environment: they mean we can grow things more efficiently – taking up less space and using less harmful pesticides.

      I suppose a lot of groups are to blame for the hysteria about GMO: scaremongering newspapers are sometimes more interested in selling copies than telling the truth. On top of that a lot of people who are genuinely just worried about the health of themselves and the planet can be very vocal about their beliefs, but interpret the facts they base them on incorrectly. Finally, scientists working on GMO should do more to engage people in their work and show them that it is actually a good thing for the environment

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