Title: Forces influencing developing country views of agricultural biotechnology: an analysis of training programme participants' perceptions

Authors: Joseph Guenthner; Karim Maredia; Cholani Weebadde

Addresses: Department of AERS, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83843, Russia. ' Institute of International Agriculture, 416 Plant and Soil Science Building, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA. ' Institute of International Agriculture, 266 Plant and Soil Science Building, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA

Abstract: Agricultural biotechnology is expanding around the world, but societal acceptance remains an important issue. Michigan State University (MSU) has developed and implemented an agricultural biotechnology short course for developing countries. Four courses were taught to regional groups in 2002-2003 and eight more were taught to geographically diverse groups in 2004-2008. One half day of each course was devoted to issues related to biotechnology acceptance. The participants discussed the pro-GM and anti-GM forces in their countries. Scientists were the top ranked pro-GM force and information was the top anti-GM force. Regional differences were found between forces such as food security and economics. Possible temporal differences included a rising influence of farmers on the pro-GM side and a falling influence of environmental NGOs on the anti-GM side.

Keywords: genetically modified foods; GM foods; developing countries; biotechnology acceptance; biotechnology education; agricultural biotechnology; training programmes; participant perceptions; short courses; genetic modification; food security; economics; farmers; environmental NGOs.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBT.2012.050224

International Journal of Biotechnology, 2012 Vol.12 No.3, pp.170 - 183

Accepted: 11 Jan 2012
Published online: 30 Oct 2014 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article