Australians are more likely to be concerned about pollution, the greenhouse effect and nuclear waste than the use of gene technology.

That’s one of the major findings in a four year tracking study of public attitudes towards biotechnology, undertaken for Biotechnology Australia.

The study was conducted in 1999, 2001 and again in 2003 looking at changes in public attitudes toward applications such as GM foods and crops, stem cells and cloning.

“The general trend from 1999 to 2001 was an increase in support for many applications of gene technology. From 2001 to 2003 there was an increase in risk perception, but no parallel increase in concern,” said Craig Cormick of Biotechnology Australia.

“The concept of risk has changed enormously in the last two years. Australians have increased risk perceptions right across society, fuelled by global insecurities such as September 11 and the Bali bombing,” Mr Cormick said.

The major findings of the study included:

• Continued high support for the use of gene technology in medicines;

• 82% of the population support stem cell science but, perhaps unrealistically, expect it to improve our way of life in the next five to ten years;

• 56% believe Australian farmers need access to gene technology to remain internationally competitive;

• 45% of the population would eat GM foods, down from 49% in 2001, but well above the 1999 level of 25%. Opposition to GM foods is largely based on a perceived lack of benefit for consumers;.

• Highest risk perceptions related to modifying plant cells using animal genetic material or genetic material from bacteria.

“While perceptions of risk have increased, a majority of people (56%) continue to feel that Australia should accept some degree of risk if it would enhance Australia’s economic competitiveness,” said Mr Cormick.

“There was also strong support for continued research, because when asked if the risks of gene technology outweighed the benefits to the point that all research and development should be stopped, 73 per cent of respondents did not agree,” he said.

The independent poll of more than 1000 people was conducted by Millward Brown.

Companion summary report in PDF format: http://www.biotechnology.gov.au/library/content_library/BA_MB2003_Final_Public.pdf