New genetic techniques for food raise doubts

The Dutch are not necessarily against genetically modifying food crops, but have doubts about the effectiveness and safety of the new technologies. The Rathenau Institute has conducted extensive research into citizens' opinions on these technologies. 

The report Editing under provision: Dutch citizens' views on new genomic techniques in food crops shows that citizens have little appetite for excluding new genetic techniques from European regulation.

New techniques

The new techniques are faster, easier and cheaper to apply than older techniques. The best-known example is CRISPR-Cas, which can make small modifications to dna. In 2018, the European Court of Justice ruled that these new techniques are also covered by the rules established by the European Commission early this century. However, several parties argue that they should be exempt from this, as long as no dna is added. The European Commission wants to decide before the summer whether new rules will be put in place.

Doubts about safety

Citizens have doubts about the long-term safety of these new techniques for humans and the environment. They want to be able to read on labels that genetic engineering has been used so that consumers can choose. However, citizens do believe that these new techniques can produce crops that are more resistant to diseases and the effects of climate change. At the same time, they have little confidence that these techniques will actually be used to contribute to solving societal problems, as corporate interests will mostly come first.

Social debate

Researcher Michelle Habets of the Rathenau Institute stresses that it is important for the Dutch government to enter into a dialogue with society about these new technologies. It is important to increase support for the policy and prevent unrest. The report shows that citizens have strong opinions about these new technologies, which differ from the position taken by the Dutch government. It is therefore important to conduct public debate on these new technologies to ensure broad-based policy.

View the report 'Editing under provision: Dutch citizens’ views on new genomic techniques in food crops’
Rathenau.nl