Genetically modified crops are being adopted rapidly globally. The GM crop technology is one of the fastest adopted biotechnologies, registering an 87 per cent increase between 1996 and 2010 (Deng et al., 2019). The major genetically modified crops are soybean, maize, canola and cotton, covering approximately 150 million hectares in 29 nations in 2010 (Deng et al., 2019). Like any other form of technology, modern biotechnology influences people’s decision-making patterns and those of societal institutions. The new technologies come with a lot of scientific uncertainty because most of their social and individual impacts are unknown. Innovations influence people’s social life as they create conflicts with their previously held view and values. Technology innovation in biotechnology is genetically modified crops. Genetically modified foods are made by altering the genes of a plant, animal or microorganism or by inserting genes from another organism. The current information influences consumer’s attitudes in various parts of the world towards GM crops in the system.
China is one of the global leaders in the application of agricultural GM technology. Insect-resistant cotton growing in China began in 1997, taking up 5.8% of the total area covered by cotton in that year (Deng et al., 2019). An innovation plan issued by the Chinese government in 2016 recommended the advancement of scientific studies on GM crops and encouraged the commercialization of new varieties of Bt Corn, Bt cotton and soybeans. However, less than 30% of the Chinese population is willing to purchase GM products despite the large investment in GM crops by the government. In Malaysia, biotechnology is one of the five main technologies identified to help speed up the country’s industrial revolution by 2020 (Amin et al., 2013). Malaysia is an agriculture-based nation, and biotechnology is a powerful tool that will enhance the country’s food security and boost its economy. Several imported GM foods have already penetrated the Malaysian market, such as GM soybean and GM corn. This paper aims to assess and compare the attitude of the Chinese and Malaysian people towards GM crops.
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Consumer Attitudes
A person’s attitude towards new technologies depends on risk and benefit perception, social norms, and trust in the institutions that promote the new technologies. Previous studies concluded that consumer acceptance of biotechnology is driven by moral considerations and their perceived risks and benefits of the product (Hafsyah & Ristawati, 2020). There are four dimensions of attitude to assess patterns of Asian public response to biotechnology and GM crops. The four dimensions are risk, perceived use, acceptability and encouragement (Lucht, 2015). The available studies on public attitudes towards genetically modified foods are similar to risk perception studies. This psychometric approach indicates that consumers interpret risks as a concept with various dimensions with wider qualitative characteristics.
Consumer Attitudes towards GM crops in Malaysia
According to Ismail et al. (2012), previous studies have found that food products with genetically modified products have had a negative consumer response. GM crops are avoided due to the perceptions and the risks attached to genetically modified crops. Research has proven that many Malaysian populations do not have enough knowledge and understanding of GMF technology, which influences their attitudes and purchasing intentions regarding GMF. Malaysian consumers are cautious with GM foods due to the risks attached to them. The study suggests that policymakers should make more efforts from both the government and industry to increase knowledge about GM food's benefits.
A study carried out in Klang Valley, Malaysia, concluded that the population did not have lot information regarding GM crops. This finding is attributed to the public perception of biotechnology as being novel or complex. The country’s laws do not require labeling of modern genetically modified foods, and there is little media coverage of biotechnology issues (Ibrahim, 2013). This contributes to the average awareness levels and knowledge in the public space. The results reveal that the acceptance of genetically modified by Malaysians is influenced more by the complex relationships between awareness, consumers benefits and the moral aspects of the genes involved instead of applications or products. The Klang Valley stakeholders seemed to be supportive of the GM palm oil but apprehensive towards GM soybean (Ibrahim, 2013). The GM product that was the most familiar, was beneficial to consumers, and had little moral concern, the risk associated with it was perceived as acceptable. The product’s use was highly encouraged. The study also confirmed some similarities in how Asians supported the GM technology, as seen in other studies on consumer attitudes of the Philippines, Indonesians and people from Thailand. The GM crops containing the plant gene received more support compared to GM insulin. A cause for concern in Malaysia is that biotechnologists, biologists, producers and policymakers seemed to be very cautious towards GM products. They claimed to have little knowledge of GM crops. Most policymakers and scientists perceived agricultural biotechnology to be beneficial but acknowledged its risks.
Consumer Attitudes towards GM crops in China
The government of China has put huge amounts of money into the development of GM crops to help improve its food security. The GM insect-resistant cotton is the most grown GM crop in China. It has been adopted by over rate of over 90% of the Chinese farmers (Huang & Peng, 2015). However, the increasing number of Chinese citizens who perceive GM technology as unsafe will most likely be a major obstacle for China to carry on with the development and implementation of the GM technology in the future. The government should invest in educating the masses on GM technology to balance the public debate on GM technology. China has made some policy changes in China to increase the consumer willingness to purchase GM foods. The Ministry of Agriculture of China issued policy guidelines for GM and non-GM food advertisements. It prohibited all discriminatory adverts for GM or non-GM food. Also, the national central government announced that the GM research, safety management and science popularization would be strengthened in China.
The study by Deng et al. (2019) was among the first to assess the Chinese agribusiness stakeholders' perceptions and attitudes towards GM food crops cultivation. Most Chinese stakeholders don’t support the commercialization of GM crops. Chinese agribusiness managers are worried about the safety of GM foods and making losses. Consumer perceptions in urban china have changed compared to 10 years ago, with most consumers perceiving GM foods as not safe for consumption. Consumers who doubt the consumption safety of GM foods increased from 13% in 2002 to 45% in 2012 (Huang & Peng, 2015). The major shift in consumer perception changed after 2010. While the exact reasons are unknown, the increased negative coverage on GM technology might be the reason for the rising concern of GM food safety.
Conclusion
Consumer attitudes have an effect on the innovation of genetically modified plants with new and improved properties. Their decisions determine which GM crops are successful in the agribusiness world. They also influence how governments regulate the development and application of new biotechnologies. Malaysia and China populations have increased skepticism towards GM technology, mainly due to a lack of understanding of the underlying concepts. Although the Chinese government is putting some effort to reconcile the consumer perceptions to the growing need for sustainable agriculture and food security, the Malaysian government has a long way to go. Both countries need a framework that supports consumers' rights and looks into the possible reasons why GM crops are considered undesirable by society. This discussion should also focus on educating the masses on the advantages of GM crops and their role in addressing global food security and agricultural sustainability challenges.
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References
Amin, L., Md Jahi, J., & Md Nor, A. (2013). Stakeholders’ attitude to genetically modified foods and medicine. The Scientific World Journal , 2013 , 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/516742
Deng, H., Hu, R., Pray, C., & Jin, Y. (2019). Perception and attitude toward GM technology among agribusiness managers in China as producers and as consumers. Sustainability , 11 (5), 1342. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11051342
Hafsyah, S., & Ristawati, R. (2020). Food security of genetically modified crops: The roles of the states in Malaysia and Indonesia to protect farmers’ rights. Journal of Critical Reviews , 7 (05). https://doi.org/10.31838/jcr.07.05.197
Huang, J., & Peng, B. (2015). Consumers' perceptions on GM food safety in urban China. Journal of Integrative Agriculture , 14 (11), 2391-2400. https://doi.org/10.1016/s2095-3119(15)61125-x
Ibrahim, B. (2013). Consumer perception towards genetically modified food in the Klang Valley Malaysia (Masters Degree). Universiti Putra Malaysia.
Ismail, K., Soehod, K., Vivishna, S., Khurram, W., Jafri, S. K. A., & Ramily, M. K. B. (2012). Genetically modified food and consumer purchase intentions: A study in Johor Bahru. International Journal of Business and Social Science , 3 (5).
Lucht, J. (2015). Public acceptance of plant biotechnology and GM crops. Viruses , 7 (8), 4254-4281. https://doi.org/10.3390/v7082819
