Biotech’s Finding Favor

For many years, I have been mystified as to why consumers who said they opposed the use of pesticides wouldn’t accept foods produced through biotechnology. Through the use of biotechnology, the amounts of pesticides used would decline considerably. Indeed, they already have.

Furthermore, it wasn’t like people haven’t been consuming such genetically modified products for many years. About 90% of people consume such products each day, as a huge percentage of processed foods and beverages contain genetically modified soybeans and corn.

But whether it’s because people have come to recognize the value of biotechnology and how advantageous it is, the times, they are a-changing. Or at least people’s attitudes are, according to a recent survey by the International Food Information Council (IFIC), “Consumer Perceptions of Food Technology.”

According to the survey, more than three-quarters of consumers, or 77%, would be likely to buy foods produced through biotechnology for their ability to reduce pesticide use. Interestingly enough, an even greater percentage, 80%, of consumers supported biotechnology in regard to sustainability. Specifically, they said they would be likely to purchase bread, crackers, cookies, cereal, or pasta products containing wheat that was grown using plant biotechnology if they were produced using sustainable practices to feed more people using fewer resources, such as land and pesticides.

It’s A Health Issue, Too

Marianne Smith Edge, the IFIC’s interim vice president for nutrition and food safety, said the survey results show what my colleagues and I have been proclaiming for some time, that sustainability is definitely not just the latest trend. “These results suggest that the importance of the impact of food production on the environment is here to stay for consumers,” she said. “Over the last several years we’ve seen the overall awareness of sustainability and environmental issues continue to grow.”

No doubt there’s still a lot of ignorance out there when it comes to sustainability. Only half the consumers surveyed had heard or read at least a little about the concept of sustainability in food production. But consider that as recently as 2007, just 30% had heard or read anything about sustainability in food production. That means that one in five people have been enlightened in just the past three years.

There was one other survey finding that I thought would be of particular interest to vegetable growers. I think it’s welcome news, because it shows how much consumers are concerned about their health, and what a vital role vegetables play.

The majority of consumers are somewhat or very likely to purchase a variety of produce, such as tomatoes or potatoes, modified by biotechnology to provide more healthful fats like Omega-3s (76%), or to avoid trans fats (74%). Oh, and some things don’t change, just how they are achieved: Two-thirds of consumers said they would support biotech to make vegetablestaste better and/or fresher.