Assessing public support for biotechnology in South Africa

This article reports on attitudes towards biotechnology by the South African public. A multi-criteria survey was used to examine trust in science and technology, the public's opinions of biotechnology, its knowledge of the field and the predisposition of the media towards science. While a generally approving climate of opinion prevails, the uncertainty of consumers towards biotechnology, coupled with minimal knowledge of the field and high trust in the press and television, makes this climate sensitive to possible mishaps and accidents attributed to biotechnology.