Monday, April 11, 2005
Scientists lament ‘language barrier’ in GMO drive
ALTHOUGH they acknowledge the need to increase public participation in decisions regarding biosafety regulations, scientists involved in biotechnology claim it is difficult to translate scientific information into lay people’s language.
Dr. Desiree Hautea, director of the Institute of Plant Breeding of the University of the Philippines in Los Baños (UPLB), said scientific information is sometimes taken out of context or misunderstood by media and the public.
Among the often misunderstood statements, including those conveyed through media, is when scientists say they need to conduct further study.
This, Hautea said, is often perceived as failure of scientists to make substantive studies or that the scientist had been remiss in assessing risks of GMOs.
And it doesn’t help that non-government organizations (NGOs) that are against genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are good communicators, she said during a workshop on biotechnology and biosafety last week.
The workshop was sponsored by the World Resources Institute (WRI), based in Washington D.C. and the Ateneo de Manila University.
Dr. Antonio La Viña of WRI said there is a need to support and empower stakeholders so they can participate in the drafting and implementation of policies that “maximize the potential benefits while minimizing the risks of biotechnology.”
A study by Dr. Fabian Dayrit of the School of Science and Engineering and Loraine Gatbalayan, both of Ateneo de Manila University, revealed there is “low scientific literacy” and “limited information” on biotechnology and GMOs in the country.
But Hautea said it is not true that scientists have intentionally left the public out in relation to GMOs, she said.
Hautea said government regulation requires proponents of biotechnology projects and scientists to place notices in two national newspapers, as part of the requirement for public consultation, even though this is costly.
Dayrit pointed out, though, that anti-GMO NGOs also have budgetary constraints and so cannot afford massive mass media campaign.
Government scientists involved in biotechnology, on the other hand, can tap the Public Information Agency or state-owned broadcast media.
Benigno Peczon of the Biotechnology Coalition in the Philippines said they will launch an information campaign on GMOs through media soon.
Dr. Filomeno Aguilar, of the Institute of Philippine Culture, said the public must accept that GMOs “are everywhere now” and, to be able to come up with appropriate regulations and biosafety policies, there should be constant dialogue. LAP
(April 11, 2005 issue)
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