They want to know why it is used, as well as its safety, benefits, and other issues. People will ask the same basic questions about biotech-produced food as they ask about foods available now. Then people will want to know about nutrition, safety, and cooking techniques. How the product was developed will be irrelevant for most consumers. Survey results show that providing factual information builds more positive attitudes.
Sources of information vary in terms of their credibility with the public.
People have the most trust in independent scientific experts. The information consumers receive is filtered by the media rather than received directly from such groups. These survey results suggest a number of opportunities and challenges for the Extension system. This and other information will be used to provide workshop participants with practical suggestions for developing, delivering, and evaluating Extension educational programs. Strategies will be provided that include guidelines for working with opinion leaders and the media.