title: Public attitudes to GM foods. The balancing of risks and gains.
abstract: In the paper we study the variables influencing attitudes to the use of two biotechnologies related to gene transfer within apples. Using Eurobarometer 73.1 survey data on biotechnology, science and technology, with 15,650 respondents, we study the extent these attitudes are determined by socio-economic and other variables. We found that attitudes to the risks and gains are determined by socio-economic variables and also by the individual's knowledge, scientific background, their parent's education in science and their religion. Perceptions of naturalness and of environmental impact combined with perceived risks and gains in determining overall approval, proxied by views on whether the technologies should be encouraged, for GMTs. However there are substantial differences in attitudes to transgenesis and cisgenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Economics, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK. Electronic address: J.R.Hudson@bath.ac.uk.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hudson
authors.affiliation: Department of Economics, University of Economics in Bratislava, Dolnozemská cesta 1, Bratislava 85235, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Anetta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Caplanova
authors.affiliation: Department of Economics, University of Economics in Bratislava, Dolnozemská cesta 1, Bratislava 85235, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Marcel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Novak
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001690:Biological Science Disciplines / Q000193:education; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D004522:Educational Status; D005062:European Union; D005260:Female; D030841:Food, Genetically Modified / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005638:Fruit / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D027845:Malus / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cisgenesis; Gene transfer; Genetically modified technologies; Scientific background; Transgenesis