Government Regulations Affect Public Perception on Gene-edited Crops -Study

A study involving participants from the United States, Germany, and Japan sought to understand how different biotechnology regulations impact public perceptions in the three countries in order to gain insight into how the underlying political culture affects their attitudes.

A total of 2,667 respondents from the US, 2,383 from Germany, and 2,193 from Japan participated in the survey to statistically examine how different information provision affect their perceptions on the risks and benefits towards gene-edited food crops, considering that the three countries have different levels of regulations. Results showed that the participants from the US perceived the highest benefits and lowest risks of the groups validating the assumption that public attitudes on gene editing are more positive in a country that has less strict gene-editing regulations. Between Germany and Japan, the Japanese participants perceived greater benefits while the German participants perceived the least benefit and greatest risk that may be attributed to their reduced exposure on the beneficial aspects of gene-editing information.

Further studies were recommended to better understand the key factors that affect perceptions of risk and benefits of new scientific innovations and establish a new model of science communication.

Read more about the study in Science, Technology, & Human Values and EurekAlert!