Concerns surrounding biotechnology by Paul Thompson

More than any other recent development in agriculture, biotechnology has focused attention on ethical issues in agriculture. People who hear about advances in genetic research object on various ethical grounds. They ask:

Is it ethical to manipulate genes in living matter?

Some religious and cultural traditions associate a particular "essence" with each living organism, and some specifically connect genes with that idea of essence.

Some people believe that nature has a specific, inherent order, and that the species of plants and animals represent natural kinds. They fear that biotechnology disrupts natural order and violates the limits of what humans are ethically permitted to do.

Many religious traditions prohibit trans-species reproduction, ban the consumption of certain foods, or ban the mixing of foods from different groups. Some see biotechnology as contrary to those traditions.

According to some traditions, certain plants or animals just aren't suitable for food. Using them creates a feeling of repugnance in some people. Some people feel that bioengineered foods fall in this category.

Does gene technology pose risks to animal, environmental and human interests?

Agricultural researchers do not knowingly pursue technologies that pose a risk to animals, people or the environment, but during the last century, they have found that their actions sometimes have unintended consequences. Concerns about those unintended consequences center on five major areas.

• The environment: First, people worry that genetically modified organisms might move into the air or water, then into humans where they could cause health problems. Secondly, they fear that genetically modified organisms might disrupt the ecosystem and harm human society by causing problems like increasing global warming or destabilizing the global agricultural system. Third, people worry that while technologies like genetic engineering might not harm humans directly, they could harm other species or disrupt the ecological balance.
• Food safety: Most food safety concerns revolve around whether people should depend upon regulators to decide if genetically engineered foods are safe, or if bioengineered foods should be labeled so that people can choose for themselves. Additionally, some worry that bioengineered food won't be safe to eat. For example, they wonder if potential allergens might be introduced into foods without consumers knowing they are there.
• Moral status of animals: People worry that bioengineered livestock may be less healthy or otherwise harmed simply because of the process of bioengineering. Others are concerned that researchers could use biotechnology to make animals more tolerant to production practices and settings.
• Impact on farming communities. Certain critics worry that biotechnology favors large production operations. They believe that use of technology will lead to bankruptcies for smaller farms and the decline of rural communities. Such critics especially worry that substance farmers in developing regions will suffer.
• Shifting power relations. Critics that believe biotechnology favors corporations and large production operations also fear that a shift toward the technology will cause a shift in economic power away from the poor and middle class and toward the rich.

Can we trust the institutions that develop, promote and regulate biotechnology?

Many issues in biotechnology are surrounded by uncertainty. Answers are not clear-cut because we don't know if biotechnology might cause harm in a certain situation. Because there are no absolute answers, people in government who have to make decisions about the use of the technology often ask for university researchers' input.

Many people who are affected by those decisions wonder if they can trust the decision-makers or the university researchers. They wonder if politicians and researchers keep their best interests in mind. It is certainly a matter of trust.

It's also a matter of how people communicate, because the way we communicate an issue can promote or decrease trust.

Often spokespersons from industry or activist groups try to sway public opinion with ads or talks. Their clear purpose is either to promote or to discredit biotechnology. In general, people understand that the spokesperson is trying to manipulate their attitudes or emotions. People naturally and rationally put less trust in these kinds of messages, and less trust in the messengers..

People looking for trustworthy sources of information are looking for something else, someone whose conduct is trustworthy.

To be a trustworthy, a person must consider the interests of the public before their own and thoughtfully consider all sides of the issues. They need to listen to and address people's concerns. They build a relationship.

Researchers and legislators who want to be seen as trustworthy by the public must openly and publicly discuss ethical issues surrounding biotechnology. If they do not, their actions may be called into question by a public that does not trust them.

For more detailed information on this subject, see Food and Agricultural Biotechnology: Incorporating Ethical Considerations by Paul Thompson.