In a recent survey, only 16% of grassland farmers said they were dead against the idea of GM crops. The rest said they would do so if consumers accept the technology: 47% just said “yes” while 37% said they could be persuaded.

From the farmers’ perspective, the crux of the matter thus seems to be consumer attitudes. But in practice these are largely unknown. The pressure groups, seemingly polling their own supporters, report overwhelming rejection. The retailers for the most part seem too scared of those pressure groups to offer many products on their shelves and allow consumers to make up their own minds. But when they do offer them, they are purchased without fuss, just like any other products – some people buy them and others don’t.

Reported priorities expressed by farmers for the anticipated benefits of GM crops were unexpected: increased crop yields were close to the bottom rather than the top. The most favoured was reduced disease, followed closely by pest resistance and better nutritive value for stock. The bottom two rated benefits were increased yields and the ability to spray weeds with less selective products.

Source:

Half of UK farmers prepared to grow genetically modified forage crops. Farmers Guardian (17.4.07) (http://www.checkbiotech.org/green_News_Genetics.aspx?Name=genetics&infoId=14457)

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