The issues involved in the production, regulation and marketing of GM foods are complex. Positions are polarized. There are those who believe that modern biotechnology has provided and will provide significant benefits for both farmers and consumers. They are opposed by those who hold that it is only the inventors of genetically modified products who are likely to benefit significantly, while the population as a whole may have to bear unacceptable risks to health and the environment. There are also sharp differences of opinion concerning the implications of agricultural biotechnology for developing countries. Some see it as a means of considerably enhancing food supplies in vulnerable regions of the world, while others fear that it will lead to the exploitation of both growers and consumers in impoverished countries.
The fact that there are divergent views on such a complex issue is not surprising. Nor should it be a reason for failure to take action that is in the public interest -- namely, to capture the benefits of biotechnological innovation while providing reasonable protection against potential harms. Our findings and recommendations in this regard fall under four themes: good governance, precaution, information and consumer choice, and social and ethical considerations.
