• Question: What is your opinion on genetically modified food? I think there’s nothing wrong with it, so why do you think people don’t trust GMO?

    Asked by Lang to Sian, Max, Lizzie, Francis, Ben on 6 Mar 2018.
    • Photo: Max Jamilly

      Max Jamilly answered on 6 Mar 2018:

      Lots of people don’t trust GM foods because they are concerned about eating things they don’t understand. It’s not their fault they don’t understand: it’s the duty of the government and scientists like me and smart people like you to educate the public. People are naturally cautious, and until it’s clear that the benefits are bigger than the disadvantages, they will be nervous about GMOs.

    • Photo: Francis Man

      Francis Man answered on 6 Mar 2018:

      On principle I don’t have a problem with GM food. We have been doing this for a very long time, by crossing different plants. Think of all the kinds of apples you can buy, many of them were created this way. It’s genetic engineering, but because you can do it in your garden, it doesn’t seem as scary as someone in a lab using pipettes and all sorts of high-tech equipment.

      Just like Max, I think people don’t trust GMOs mostly because they don’t understand them. I also think that the behaviour of some companies that manufacture GMOs has been very irresponsible and unethical, and by association many people think that GMOs are bad because of those companies.

      The issue of genetic engineering (whether about food or for medical purposes) is really an illustration of why scientific education needs to be improved. People need to have a better understanding of the biology behind it, so that they can make educated choices for themselves and not be influenced by those with a particular agenda.

    • Photo: Lizzie Wright

      Lizzie Wright answered on 6 Mar 2018:

      I have no problem with it! Genetically modified is a scary term, but its just a faster process than what we have been doing for centuries – picking crops with the best features and crossing them with other plants with good features e.g. the biggest or the tastiest.

      This could help solve problems like food shortages in countries that have little rain or poor soil.

      I agree with the other answers though, people generally don’t understand what this term means and we need to be more open about discussing it and the benefits that it can offer.

    • Photo: Ben Mulhearn

      Ben Mulhearn answered on 8 Mar 2018:

      I think that genetically modified food is a great idea! Why not use all the knowledge and research that humans have done and put it to good use to make more food crops? I do think that people are worried about it because they always worry about big changes, but if we are going to need to feed billions of more people in the future (because the population on earth is growing) we are going to have to come up with solutions like GMOs.

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