A new poll shows that over 8 in 10 Canadians support research and the use of products and processes that involve biotechnology. When the group was asked if they believe that they would personally benefit from advances in biotechnology in their lifetime, 23 per cent responded that they would not .
In BIOTECanada’s 2007 survey, only nine per cent of respondents believed they would not benefit from biotechnology. In a telephone interview last week Philip Schwab, BIOTECanada’s vice president industry relations was asked if this increase in non-believers could be due to the continuing representation of the evils of biotechnology and genetically modified products in the media. Schwab responded, “Ag biotech is often portrayed in the media that the majority of the public is against it, but if you are working in the biotech industry the benefits are clear – Canadians support the technology.”
There is a great deal of evidence in biotechnology’s achievements such as the success of biofuels, renewable energy sources and in how biotech has improved nutritional benefits in food products. “Canadians do see the benefits biotechnology offers in agriculture,” said Schwab.
As consumer demands for low food costs along with high quality products grows, farmers continue to look for advances in biotechnology for better production methods and continued improvements in products including enhanced disease and insect resistance, better performance under stressed conditions such as drought and heat, better yields and improved nutritional values of food crops.
The survey points out that almost 90 per cent of Canadians believe biotechnology is important to Canada’s future economic prosperity. As well, 85 per cent supported the use of government financial incentives to encourage innovation in the biotechnology industry. This could be done through either tax breaks, grants for research and product development and to provide incentives to encourage the use of biotechnologies among Canadian businesses and the public.
Schwab calls BIOTECanada, “Canada’s voice for biotechnology”. It is a national association, fully member supported with its 230 members being established or related companies involved in biotech in agriculture, health and industrial.
The results of the 2008 survey show that a majority of Canadians do value the contribution of biotechnology to their food, and their environment. They believe biotechnology is important to the economy and they want their governments to support biotechnology.
And this is good news for farmers who need the public’s support, not their opposition, as they strive to find better ways to farm and to use all of the technology available to them.
The complete results of the 2008 survey are available by clicking here
Kathie, I like your graphic here, and the link to the survey at the end. and of course the middle — it’s well developed! I can tell you put a lot of time into this post.
I believe you are trying to build conflict in the lead, correct? You have the right idea…how about this:
A new poll shows that more than 80 per cent of Canadians support research and the use of products and processes that involve biotechnology, but a growing number don’t expect to benefit from biotechnology in their lifetime.