Global Survey Reveals Public Sentiment Towards Transformative Technologies in Health and Agriculture

Leaps by Bayer, Boston Consulting Group (BCG), and Ipsos released one of the largest surveys on global public perception towards four transformative technologies, namely artificial intelligence (AI) in medicine, cell and gene therapies, new genomic techniques (NGTs) in agriculture, and cultivated meat.

The study surveyed over 13,000 participants in 13 countries, representing high, upper-middle, and lower-middle income countries worldwide. Among the key findings of the study are the following:

• Middle-income countries (e.g., China and Nigeria) are more optimistic about science than high-income countries in the West (e.g., France, Germany, Italy, and the U.S.).
• Globally, 56% support NGTs in agriculture, especially for techniques used to develop climate resilient crops. In Europe, 47% view NGTs positively, 34% are neutral, and only 12% oppose them.
• Support for agricultural innovations is lower than healthcare, with 56% favoring NGTs and only 39% supporting cultivated meat.
• Skepticism toward innovation stems from limited knowledge and distrust in health authorities. Higher levels of knowledge correlate to positive opinions/optimism. Distrust reduces optimism in scientific breakthroughs.

The study aimed to help stakeholders understand public sentiments toward scientific innovation and build trust and awareness for informed decision-making. “We understand that addressing the world's greatest challenges requires more than investing in transformative technologies—it demands building societal acceptance. This begins with actively listening to people's hopes and concerns about breakthrough science,” said Dr. Juergen Eckhardt, Executive Vice President and head of Leaps by Bayer.

For more information, read the full report from Leaps by Bayer or the article from Bayer.