Invitation to take part in new research project examining relationship between world views and perceptions of gene-edited food

Have you ever wondered what drives agricultural GMO enthusiasts to want to genetically alter our food supply? Our experience is that the simplistic answers offered by some – money and power – don't always give the whole picture and sometimes don't apply at all. What is clear, however, is that those who oppose GM foods and crops often have very different world views to those who advocate them. But what are those world views?

If you live in the UK and are 18 or over, you can contribute to research that hopes to answer these questions and more. The research is taking place in the context of the passage of the Genetic Technology Act last year, which removes a whole class of GMOs from safety checks and labelling.

In charge of the research is Maison McDermott-Reid, who is currently carrying out an MSc thesis with the Centre of Agroecology, Water and Resilience at Coventry University. In light of the increasing possibility of covert gene-edited produce entering our supermarkets in upcoming years, his research project examines the relationship between consumer world views and perceptions of gene-edited food. He said, "Given this often-polarising topic, I want to understand what causes people to possess such contrasting perceptions and investigate whether these differences can be explained by the alternate values and paradigms that people subscribe to."

If you would like to take part, please do so by filling in an interesting 15-20 minute questionnaire, which will first help distinguish your world view and then collect your perspectives on gene editing, genetic modification in general, and the Genetic Technology Act specifically. The link to the survey and the participant information sheet containing important additional information can be found here: https://forms.gle/1ZXdAUcPqsf599ba6.

We encourage people to take part whatever position they take on these topics.