http://www.fwi.co.uk/article.asp?con=9637&sec=17&hier=17

Business news

Dim view of GM technology

Source: FWi 20 March 2003

By Philip Clarke, Europe editor

EUROPEAN consumers continue to take a dim view of GM technology for food,
but there is growing acceptance it might have beneficial medical and
industrial uses.

A European Commission survey found that 44% of the 16,500 people polled
believed that biotechnology could improve their quality of life.

Only 17% said it would not.

"Genetic testing for inherited diseases and cloning human cells and tissues
are supported in all member states," said the commission.

"And the use of genetically modified enzymes to produce environmentally
friendly washing powders is well perceived.

But for genetically modified crops, support is lukewarm.

"Most Europeans do not support GM foods, considering them of little value
and dangerous for society," the commission said.

But, compared with previous studies, the latest report detected some
increase in support for GM crops in the UK, Ireland and Spain.

Further investigations into who consumers believe when it comes to
biotechnology show that 70% trust doctors, university scientists and
consumer organisations.

Only 55% trust farmers and newspapers.

The government and the biotechnology industry got less than 50% support.

Such scepticism had led to a 76% drop in GM field trials since 1998, as
researchers turn their backs on the European union.