Public Perception of Genetic Engineering

This paper presents the results of a survey conducted on public perception of genetic engineering in Jamaica. Our findings suggest that the safety of genetically modified foods is a major concern for consumers and that the perception of the prospects for genetic engineering to improve the quality of life represents a major factor in a consumer’s decision to purchase GM foods. Introduction Within a span of five years agricultural biotechnology and the development of genetically modified (GM) foods have progressed from small-scale field trials to large commercial plantings worldwide. According to recent figures, some 5.5 million farmers are presently growing crops obtained through Agricultural biotechnology that cover more than 58 million hectares mainly in the U.S., Argentina, Canada and China, representing a 35-fold increase in acreage devoted to GM crops between 1996 and 2002. (Hails and Kinderlarer). With regards to developing countries, the technology offers opportunities to complement traditional techniques and improve their agricultural systems. Research is being conducted in few regions in the Caribbean, including Jamaica. Field testing of genetically modified papayas has been in progress since 1998 under the supervision of the National Biosafety Committee (NBC). The transgenic papayas carry genes that confer resistance to Papaya ringspot virus. This represents a welcomed development given that Jamaica’s papaya crop was devastated by the virulent ringspot disease in the mid1990’s. With no resistance gene available in related plants, the development and propagation of transgenic papaya holds high promise of reviving the papaya industry (Tennant, Ahmad, and Gonsalves). Other crops such as pepper and tomato are being developed to fight against other plant pathogens in the island.