Brussels, Belgium
June 19, 2006One in
two Europeans believe biotechnology will improve quality of life
52% of those polled in the
latest Eurobarometer survey on biotechnology, published today,
indicated a belief that biotechnology will improve their quality
of life. The Eurobarometer “Europeans and biotechnology in 2005”
shows that most Europeans are in favour of medical (red)
applications of biotechnology when there are clear benefits for
human health; and industrial (white)applications, but they are
still mostly sceptical about agricultural (green) biotech, and
will continue to be so unless new crops and products are seen to
have consumer benefits. Confidence has increased in the European
Union's regulation of biotechnology but there is no evidence
that this has influenced the public's reported purchasing
intentions, especially for GM foods. Overall, optimism about
biotechnology's contribution to improving society has grown
significantly since 1999. There is also support for research
using stem cells, provided this is tightly regulated.
This survey is the latest in a
series of regular surveys on attitudes to biotechnology
undertaken since 1991. The survey will be presented at a
workshop on 22 June 2006 in Brussels.
GM food
Overall Europeans think that GM food should not be
encouraged. GM food is widely seen as not being useful,
as morally unacceptable and as a risk for
society.
Looking at a section of the European public – the
‘decided’ public – who have a view on four key questions
about GM food, 58 per cent oppose and 42 per
cent support. Only in Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Italy,
Malta, Czech Republic and Lithuania do the supporters
out-number the opponents. |
The survey examines issues such
as:
- Optimism about the
contribution of technology, including biotechnology, to
our way of life. Here, the survey shows that optimism about
biotechnology has increased since 1999, after a period of
decline (52% say it will improve their life)
- The development of
nanotechnology, pharmacogenetics (analysing a person’s
genetic code in order to create drugs which are tailored to
him/her and are therefore more effective) and gene
therapy, all three of which are generally perceived as
useful to society and morally acceptable.
-
GM food, where a majority of Europeans (58%) think it
should not be encouraged,
- Industrial (white)
technologies, such as bio-fuels, bio-plastics
(plastics manufactured from crop plants) and biopharming
(the use of genetically modified plants in the production of
medicines and pharmaceutical products) for pharmaceuticals,
which are widely supported.
- Stem cell research,
where there is considerable support across Europe, if
tightly regulated. There is approval for use of both stem
cells derived from umbilical cords (65%) and embryonic stem
cells (59%), with 26% of people saying they do not approve
of embryonic stem cell research at all or only under very
special circumstances.
- Use of personal genetic
data, with 58% of participants indicating they would
allow their genetic data to be banked for research purposes,
though there are differing levels of support for genetic
data banks across the EU.
- Trust in actors
involved in biotechnology, which shows growing levels of
trust in university and industry scientists (73% and 64%).
The EU is seen as more trustworthy than national governments
on issues of regulating biotechnology (74% compared with
68%).
- Comparison of attitudes
with US and Canada, dispelling claims that European
public opinion is more technology-adverse than its
transatlantic partners.
Close analysis of the data
shows that it is inaccurate to ascribe certain attitudes to
biotechnology by age group, or gender.
This survey is the latest in a
series of such Eurobarometers on biotechnology conducted in
1991, 1993, 1996, 1999, 2002 and 2005. The sixth Eurobarometer
on Biotechnology 2005 is based on a representative sample of
25 000 respondents, approximately 1 000 in each EU Member State.
The experts who undertook this survey will present the findings
at a workshop on 22 June. To register for the workshop, please
visit:
www.ec.europa.eu/research/press/2006/pr1906en.cfm
Executive summary:
http://www.ec.europa.eu/research/press/2006/pdf/pr1906_exec-summary-final_en.pdf
Full report (535KB):
http://www.ec.europa.eu/research/press/2006/pdf/pr1906_eb_64_3_final_report-may2006_en.pdf
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