Canadians generally do not have a solid understanding of what exactly the term biotechnology refers to, according to recently released public opinion research collected by Nielsen Consumer Insights on behalf of Agriculture Canada.
In July 2016, the department issued a contract asking Nielsen Consumer Insights to conduct a comprehensive research project to measure Canadian consumers perceptions and attitudes towards issues related to domestic agriculture and agri-food.
The research would help provide insight while developing the next agriculture policy framework, which comes into force in 2018. The data was collected via a series of focus groups, telephone calls and online consultations.
Overall, researchers found 88 percent of those surveyed have a generally positive or neutral view of biotechnology.
Canadians generally feel that biotechnology will have a positive impact on their future, placing it near the top of a selection of new and emerging technologies in terms of this promise, researchers told Agriculture Canada.
However, Canadian knowledge and view on specific forms of biotechnology varies widely.
Researchers found that most of the people who were surveyed struggled to give examples of biotechnology used in agriculture. Participants typically offered up examples used within the medical and health care fields, such as stem cells, antibiotics and robotics.
The association of the term biotechnology with health applications may be an indication that it is profiting from a halo effect, re-searchers warned.
This could lead to people feeling that biotechnology is positive because the applications that they associate with it promote human well-being.
Researchers reported an aversion to applications of biotechnology that consumers felt had the potential to upset the natural order or would allow scientists to play god.
The closer the application could be seen in terms of living, breathing organisms, the more resistance there was to the specific applications, such as genetically modified animals.
Researchers found less than half (46 percent) of the Canadians surveyed were familiar with the concept of GM animals, which has dropped from previous years.
Canadians werent particularly comfortable with the idea. Many within the focus groups raised moral or ethical concerns about it.
People were much more likely to see the potential risks of GM animals as outweighing the benefits than they were likely to see with other technologies, the report reads.
Those technologies include biofuel, gene editing and genetically modified fish, including fish that could be used to produce insulin for diabetic human patients.
Despite specific consumer concerns around certain applications, researchers found Canadians have not rejected biotechnology all together.
Consumer opinions are built based on the specific use presented and individual knowledge of that particular form of biotechnology, researchers said.
In other words, there does not appear to be a blanket approval or rejection of biotechnologies themselves.
Thats good news for Canadian agriculture, where participants stressed Canada could easily be-come a world leader in the agriculture and food biotechnology re-search field. That conviction, researchers found, is increasing as more attention is paid to it.
It is possible that this is due to the growing role that these technologies are playing in our food supply and a higher level of media attention, Agriculture Canada was told.
Similarly, people agree that these technologies will be developed elsewhere in the world where regulations and control may be less stringent, the report said, which isa situation Canadians said they would like to avoid. The federal government, respondents said, has an important role to play in the biotechnology field.
Over the course of the study, 875 Canadians were contacted last year by phone between Aug. 31 and Sept. 17 and Dec. 1-13. The phone portion of the research has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.3 percent.
Another 220 Canadians participated in the online survey, and 10 focus groups were held, with two meetings each in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Halifax and Calgary.
Kelsey Johnson is a reporter with iPolitics, http://www.ipolitics.ca.
More:
Biotechnology remains a mystery for many Canadians - Western Producer
- Plant biotechnology 3 - Video - January 1st, 2014 [January 1st, 2014]
- Press Release - April 9th, 2014 [April 9th, 2014]
- Biotech Suffers Record Exit at Largest ETF Signaling Turn - April 9th, 2014 [April 9th, 2014]
- Biotechnology World Congress 2014 | Biotechnology ... - April 9th, 2014 [April 9th, 2014]
- What is Biotechnology? - Access Excellence @ the National ... - April 9th, 2014 [April 9th, 2014]
- What is Biotechnology? - BIO | Healing, Fueling and ... - April 9th, 2014 [April 9th, 2014]
- Biotechnology - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - April 9th, 2014 [April 9th, 2014]
- IUBP Day5 2 Emerging Opportunities in Biotechnology - Video - April 9th, 2014 [April 9th, 2014]
- B.Tech(Biotechnology), BATCH 2008/09, SVPUAT MEERUT.............. FRIENDS FOREVER...... - Video - April 9th, 2014 [April 9th, 2014]
- Bharat Book Presents : Global Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Outlook 2014 Mature Biotech - Video - April 9th, 2014 [April 9th, 2014]
- Bharat Book Presents : Global Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Outlook 2014 Japan Pharma - Video - April 9th, 2014 [April 9th, 2014]
- Bharat Book Presents : Global Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Outlook 2014 India Pharma - Video - April 9th, 2014 [April 9th, 2014]
- Bharat Book Presents : Global Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Outlook 2014 Rising Stars - Video - April 10th, 2014 [April 10th, 2014]
- Nasdaq Rout Curbs 2000-Like Boom in Israeli Share Sales - April 15th, 2014 [April 15th, 2014]
- A Glimpse into Biotechnology - Video - April 15th, 2014 [April 15th, 2014]
- Biotechnology: gel electrophoresis, PCR - Video - April 15th, 2014 [April 15th, 2014]
- Plandai Biotechnology, Inc. Qualifies for Grant From South African Department of Trade - Video - April 16th, 2014 [April 16th, 2014]
- Biotechnology Program - University of California, Davis - April 17th, 2014 [April 17th, 2014]
- Biotechnology in Action (Arizona) - Video - April 17th, 2014 [April 17th, 2014]
- France protests new EU approved genetically modified corn ScienceDaily - Video - April 17th, 2014 [April 17th, 2014]
- Drug manufacture and Biotechnology '14 - SCOPS - final phase ( Auditing ) - Video - April 19th, 2014 [April 19th, 2014]
- Mucosis Partners With Chinese Firm Changchun BCHT Biotechnology - April 22nd, 2014 [April 22nd, 2014]
- Biotechnology-2014: Meeting the Needs of a Changing World - April 22nd, 2014 [April 22nd, 2014]
- New patenting guidelines are needed for biotechnology - April 22nd, 2014 [April 22nd, 2014]
- Biotechnology is so cool - Video - April 22nd, 2014 [April 22nd, 2014]
- Bharat Book Presents : Biotechnology Equipment Markets in China - Video - April 22nd, 2014 [April 22nd, 2014]
- New patenting guidelines needed for biotechnology, experts argue - April 24th, 2014 [April 24th, 2014]
- biotechnology videos - Video - April 24th, 2014 [April 24th, 2014]
- Kristi Snell, VP Research and Biotechnology for Metabolix, Inc. - Video - April 24th, 2014 [April 24th, 2014]
- 4th Annual International Conference: Advances in Biotechnology 2014 - Video - April 24th, 2014 [April 24th, 2014]
- Edmonds School District Biotechnology - Video - April 25th, 2014 [April 25th, 2014]
- World congress on Biotechnology - Video - April 25th, 2014 [April 25th, 2014]
- Bahir Dar university biotechnology dr tESFAYE - Video - April 25th, 2014 [April 25th, 2014]
- Algenist Skincare: Biotechnology from San Francisco - Video - April 27th, 2014 [April 27th, 2014]
- nitj biotechnology farewell batch2010-14 - Video - April 28th, 2014 [April 28th, 2014]
- Life Sciences & Biotechnology - Video - April 28th, 2014 [April 28th, 2014]
- Bolder Biotechnology Current Therapeutic Market Developmental Pipeline - Video - April 28th, 2014 [April 28th, 2014]
- Academic and Research Institutions to Play Key Role in 2014 BIO International Convention - April 29th, 2014 [April 29th, 2014]
- 19 Biotechnology - Video - April 29th, 2014 [April 29th, 2014]
- BIOTECHNOLOGY - Video - April 29th, 2014 [April 29th, 2014]
- Program Spotlight: Biotechnology - Video - April 30th, 2014 [April 30th, 2014]
- Biotechnology at Gaston College - Video - April 30th, 2014 [April 30th, 2014]
- Biotechnology - Gene Cloning - Video - April 30th, 2014 [April 30th, 2014]
- Amyris helps launch Brazilian Industrial Biotechnology Association (ABBI) - Video - May 2nd, 2014 [May 2nd, 2014]
- Julius Mugwagwa - Agro-biotechnology and Food Security - Video - May 2nd, 2014 [May 2nd, 2014]
- VIRUN's CEO, Philip Bromley, lecture - Cal Poly Pomona; Biotechnology - Video - May 2nd, 2014 [May 2nd, 2014]
- Biotechnology - gel electrophoresis - Video - May 2nd, 2014 [May 2nd, 2014]
- Plant Biotechnology Information Fair at Penn State 4/18/14 - Video - May 2nd, 2014 [May 2nd, 2014]
- Biotechnology ADHK - Video - May 2nd, 2014 [May 2nd, 2014]
- General Biology 2 - 38 Angiosperm Reproduction and Biotechnology - Flashcards - Video - May 2nd, 2014 [May 2nd, 2014]
- Impact of Biotechnology on Current Life - Video - May 3rd, 2014 [May 3rd, 2014]
- DGAP-Adhoc: Cytos Biotechnology Ltd to wind down Key Operational Activities - May 5th, 2014 [May 5th, 2014]
- Process - Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology - Video - May 6th, 2014 [May 6th, 2014]
- SAT105 Unit 3 Part 2 Biotechnology - Video - May 6th, 2014 [May 6th, 2014]
- highlights of industrial biotechnology - Video - May 6th, 2014 [May 6th, 2014]
- polymer & environmental biotechnology @ acib - Video - May 8th, 2014 [May 8th, 2014]
- SAT105 Unit 3 Part 1 Biotechnology - Video - May 8th, 2014 [May 8th, 2014]
- Talk of the Trade: Biotechnology & Health Sciences - Video - May 9th, 2014 [May 9th, 2014]
- Congratulations to the 2014 Biotechnology Graduates of Athens Technical College! - Video - May 9th, 2014 [May 9th, 2014]
- Plandai Biotechnology (PLPL) - Getting the Most Out of Nature - Video - May 10th, 2014 [May 10th, 2014]
- Stages Of Beans Growth- HU biotechnology - Video - May 11th, 2014 [May 11th, 2014]
- Revisiting the biotechnology stocks - Video - May 11th, 2014 [May 11th, 2014]
- Molecular Biotechnology - Master's Programme - Video - May 11th, 2014 [May 11th, 2014]
- Kevin Ahern's BB 350 (Biotechnology) 2014 - #22 - Video - May 12th, 2014 [May 12th, 2014]
- 5/5, Session 1 - Small biotechnology/Venture capital - Video - May 12th, 2014 [May 12th, 2014]
- Executive Interview - International Biotechnology Trust - Video - May 12th, 2014 [May 12th, 2014]
- Biotechnology Salaries | Salary.com - May 14th, 2014 [May 14th, 2014]
- Biotechnology | University of Wrocaw - Video - May 14th, 2014 [May 14th, 2014]
- JVS Bridges to College - Biotechnology Pathway Program - Video - May 16th, 2014 [May 16th, 2014]
- Biotechnology Paperslide Review by Khalizarek+Brian - Video - May 16th, 2014 [May 16th, 2014]
- Perceptions on the Future of Biotechnology by Robert Paarlberg (USA) - Video - May 16th, 2014 [May 16th, 2014]
- Plant Biotechnology - Video - May 16th, 2014 [May 16th, 2014]
- Playing with Biotechnology at the Age of 20: Kinshuk Mitra at TEDxOhioStateUniversity - Video - May 16th, 2014 [May 16th, 2014]
- biotechnology movie - Video - May 19th, 2014 [May 19th, 2014]
- New report details biotechnology's use in crops - May 20th, 2014 [May 20th, 2014]
- Biotechnology Stock Wins - Video - May 20th, 2014 [May 20th, 2014]
- Plant product of biotechnology - Video - May 21st, 2014 [May 21st, 2014]
- How Biotechnology Cure Diabetes - Video - May 22nd, 2014 [May 22nd, 2014]
- Exploring Laser-Material Interaction for Engineering, Biotechnology, and Medicine #DigInfo - Video - May 22nd, 2014 [May 22nd, 2014]
- Computers, Biotechnology, and Mass Communication - Video - May 22nd, 2014 [May 22nd, 2014]