Why are most Europeans opposed to GMOs?: factors explaining rejection in France and Europe



Document title: Why are most Europeans opposed to GMOs?: factors explaining rejection in France and Europe
Journal: Electronic journal of biotechnology
Database: PERIÓDICA
System number: 000265350
ISSN: 0717-3458
Authors: 1
Institutions: 1Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Grignon. Francia
Year:
Season: Abr
Volumen: 6
Number: 1
Country: Chile
Language: Inglés
Document type: Artículo
Approach: Experimental
English abstract A strong movement of opposition to GMOs developed in the late 1990s in many countries, especially in Europe, although these technologies were presented from the outset as highly promising and their advantages were often highlighted. How can this rejection be explained? The aim of this paper is to answer that question through the case of France, which is fairly representative in this respect of various European countries, even if the opposition movement is here particularly strong. One examines various factors, actors and processes that have led to such strong opposition to GMOs that at this stage their development in Europe has almost totally been halted. In the first part of the article we recall the results of several recent surveys, showing the level of acceptance or refusal of genetic engineering in several countries. We then examine important factors of rejection: the focus on potential risks of GMOs and the extensive publicity given to them, coupled with the inadequacy of answers to these diverse criticisms, and a drawing up of an unfavorable risk-benefit balance. Lastly, we point out that various fears and objections to the evolution of agriculture and to the functioning of society (i.e. limited trust in institutions and firms) appear to be crystallized around GMOs
Disciplines: Biología,
Agrociencias
Keyword: Biotecnología,
Organismos genéticamente modificados (OGM),
Transgénicos,
Productos agrícolas,
Aceptación,
Percepción del riesgo,
Riesgo-beneficio
Keyword: Biology,
Agricultural sciences,
Genetically modified organisms (GMO),
Transgenics,
Agricultural products,
Acceptance,
Risk perception,
Risk-benefit
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