Understanding Public Attitudes Toward the Use of Gene Drives in Agriculture and Values that Drive Them

Rutgers University, in collaboration with the Agriculture & Food Systems Institute (AFSI) and Newcastle University, conducted social science research to improve understanding of public attitudes and the underlying values that drive them, specifically as it relates to the potential use of gene drives in agriculture. As part of this project, AFSI implemented a series of focus groups to collect qualitative information on public attitudes in the USA, looking at regional differences and those between urban and rural populations.  The results of these focus groups informed a national survey, which Rutgers University administered to further explore public attitudes around the potential use and governance of gene drive technology to control agricultural pests.

To conclude this program, the project team is hosting a webinar to share the research results, which shed light on how the public views these technologies and what factors make them more or less likely to respond positively to research and governance decisions, with the aim of informing future research and regulatory programs. Additionally, invited speakers external to the project will set the context for the program, covering the current regulations and governance of the technology, the challenges and opportunities of gene drive strategies for pest control in agricultural systems, and public trust in regulatory agencies and support for policies on agricultural gene drives.

This project is supported by a grant under the United States Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA) Social Implications of Food and Agriculture Technologies (A1642) program area (USDA NIFA Award Notification 2024-67023-42836).