Public Perceptions of Agricultural Biotechnology In the United States in William K. Hallman, PhD. Food Policy Institute Rutgers University

Results of National Survey Funded by United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) 1,202 randomly selected Sampling error +/- 3.% / 95% confidence interval Respondents: 42% male 58% female All respondents > age 18 Interviews Completed in April 2003 Data weighted for race/ethnicity and education

11% 29% 47% 13% 14% 29% 45% 12% How much have you heard or read about genetic engineering or biotechnology? Awareness of Biotechnology

Awareness of Biotechnology Awareness in U.S. has grown modestly in the last decade and a half 1987 study by the office of technology assessment (OTA): 63% heard or read “relatively little” or “almost nothing” 6% report having heard or read “a lot”

Self-Assessed Knowledge

Not a Frequent Topic of Conversation Before this interview, have you ever discussed modern biotechnology with anyone?

GM? What GM? Are there foods with GM ingredients in supermarkets now? FPI Study 2001 Yes 22% No 29.6% Don’t Know 26.0% % 24.7% 22.9%

Have You Ever Eaten a GM Food? FPI Study 2001 Yes 44.4% No 29.6% Don’t Know 26.0% % 24.7% 22.9%

Opinions About Biotechnology Being uninformed doesn’t stand in the way of having an opinion The number of respondents who report approving or disapproving of biotechnology typically exceeds the number who report knowing much about it

What Do People Know (2003)? People typically overrate their understanding of science and food production Our National study: 37% rated their understanding of science as good, very good, or excellent Only 19.8% rate their understanding of science as poor 75% rated their understanding of food production as good, very good, or excellent Only 3% rate their understanding of food production as poor People don’t know what they don’t know So are unlikely to seek education

Knowledge of Science (Self assessed)

What Do People Know? Ten-item true/false quiz about basic concepts related to genetics and biotechnology On Average Americans only answered 6.7 correctly Still, American Consumers seem to know more than their European Counterparts

What Do People Know? European and U.S. Comparisons: “Ordinary tomatoes do not contain genes, while genetically modified tomatoes do.”

What Do People Know? European and U.S. Comparisons: “If a person eats a genetically modified fruit, their genes could be modified as a result.”

What Do People Know? European and U.S. Comparisons: “Genetically modified animals are always larger than ordinary animals.”

What Do People Know? European and U.S. Comparisons: “It is impossible to transfer animal genes to plants”

What Do People Know? Additional U.S. Data: “Genetically modified foods are created using radiation to create genetic mutations”

What Do People Know? Additional U.S. Data: “Tomatoes genetically modified with genes from catfish would probably taste fishy” 59.6% 12.7% 27.3%

Food Production Quiz Most food in the U.S. is produced on small family farms

Food Production Quiz Most of the farmers in the U.S. work off the farm to supplement their income

Food Production Quiz There is enough food produced in the U.S. to feed all the people in this country

Food Production Quiz Most of the bananas sold in U.S. supermarkets are grown in this country

Food Production Quiz Most of the corn grown in the U.S. is used to feed animals such as cows

Food Production Quiz Peanuts grow on trees

Food Production Quiz The sweetener used in most foods comes from sugarcane

Approval for GM is Declining Approval for Plant GM 2001 (n=1202) Approval for Plant GM 2003 (n=1202) % change in Approva l for GM Plant Approval for Animal GM 2001 (n=1202) Approval for Animal GM 2003 (n=1201) % change in Approval for GM Animal Strongly Approve 17%12%-5%8%6%-2% Somewhat Approve 43%37%-6%22%21%-1% Somewhat Disapprove 18%20%+2%24%21%-3% Strongly Disapprove 17%19%+2%41%45%+4% Don’t Know6%11%+5%5%8%+3% Refused0%<1%- -

Label That Produce “Foods produced through genetic modification should be labeled as such”

Approval of the Use of Genetic Modification to Create:

AgreeDisagreeDon’t Know I would buy genetically modified food if it contained less fat than ordinary food? 43.9%47.9%8.2% I would buy genetically modified food if it contained less pesticide residues than ordinary food? 62.6%29.8%7.3% I would buy genetically modified food if it were grown in a more environmentally friendly way than ordinary food? 49.3%38.4%11.3% I would buy genetically modified foods if it tasted better than ordinary food? 45.4%46.1%8.0% I would buy genetically modified food if it were cheaper than ordinary food? 33.1%59.3%7.4% Purchasing Preferences

Dining Out  “I would be unhappy if I were served GM food in a restaurant without knowing it.”  2001 – 69 percent agree  2003 – 65 percent agree  2001 study: 63% said they would prefer to eat in restaurants that advertise that they do not serve foods containing GM ingredients.

Dining Out... I would be unhappy if I were served GM food at a restaurant without knowing it. If food I was eating in a restaurant contained GM food, I would not mind.

What Do People Say? U.S. Data Comparisons of 2001 and 2003 “I would pay more for non-GM food.”

What Do People Say? European and U.S. Comparisons: “I would buy genetically modified food if it tasted better.”

What Do People Say? European and U.S. Comparisons: “I would buy GM food if it contained less pesticide residues than ordinary food.”

What Do People Say? European and U.S. Comparisons: “I would buy GM food if it contained less fat than ordinary food.”

What Do People Say? European and U.S. Comparisons: “I would buy GM food if it were grown in a more environmentally friendly way than ordinary food.”

Risk Perception Agree Disagree Don’t Know a. Genetically modified food presents no danger for future generations? 24.4%49.7%25.0 b. Eating genetically modified food will be harmful to my health or my family’s health? 33.8%43.7%21.3 c. Genetically modified food threatens the natural order of things? 53.8%35.2%10.8 d. I think it is safe for me to eat genetically modified food? 45.0%37.2%17.7 e. Serious accidents involving genetically modified foods are bound to happen? 61.8%23.3%14.4

What Do People Say? Improving quality of life (U.S.) “From what you know or have heard, do you think genetic modification will make the quality of life for people such as yourself better or worse.”

Conclusions Most Americans are relatively uninformed about biotechnology Many are still making up their minds So there is still an opportunity for proponents and opponents to influence public opinion Many have negative first impressions about the technology itself Most approve of specific products of the technology

For More Information: William K. Hallman Associate Director, Food Biotechnology Program Food Policy Institute Rutgers University New Brunswick, NJ (732) x 3103