Environmental
Concerns Boost
Support for
GM Food Crops
Public
support for
genetically
modified food
crops rose dramatically
to 73 per cent
in 2007, up
from 46 percent
in 2005, due
to perceptions
about the role
they can play
in countering
drought and
pollution.
Australian Industry
Minister Ian
Macfarlane said
a Biotechnology
Australia report,
released on
20 July 2007
found a major
change in public
attitudes towards
biotechnology
in all areas.
"When asked
if GM crops
should be grown
in their state,
50 per cent
of respondents
from all states
said 'Yes',
with a further
30 per cent
approving as
long as they
were strongly
regulated,"
Macfarlane said.
"This marks
a significant
change in public
attitudes and
coincides with
an increased
confidence in
science across
society. The
perceived benefits
from biotechnology
are increasing
while the perceived
risks are declining.
"Changes
in attitudes
have been influenced
by the public's
increased familiarity
with gene technology
and a perception
that GM crops
could be used
to counter major
environmental
concerns.”
The study looked
at public concerns
about biotechnology
applications
and sought to
understand what
benefits people
wanted from
the technology.
The highest
values placed
on biotechnology
applications
were:
• cleaning
up pollution
(97 per cent
support);
• developing
environmentally-friendly
vehicle fuels
(97 per cent);
• recycling
water more effectively
(96 per cent);
• helping
address climate
change (91 per
cent); and
• combating
salinity (90
per cent).
The survey was
developed with
input from industry,
research organisations
and non-government
organizations.
Australia
to Join European
Molecular
Biology Laboratory
Australia
is to become
the first associate
member of the
European Molecular
Biology Laboratory
(EMBL).
"Australia
is a highly
valuable addition
to EMBL and
we are very
pleased to welcome
it as our first
associate member,"
said Iain Mattaj,
EMBL's Director
General. “In
recent years
Australia has
become a central
player in the
landscape of
molecular biology.
With its special
expertise, for
example in the
fields of medical
epidemiology
and stem cell
research, it
will be an excellent
complement to
EMBL's focus
on basic research
in molecular
biology.”
The membership
will see Australia
sending early-career
scientists to
join EMBL as
faculty and
both predoctoral
and postdoctoral
fellows, while
EMBL will share
its expertise
in the areas
of research
infrastructure
development
and training
researchers
with Australian
institutions.
Reflecting on
the international
recognition
of Australian
science, Australia's
Minister for
Education, Science
and Training,
the Hon Julie
Bishop MP, noted,
“The EMBL
is a central
hub for molecular
biology in Europe.
Australia is
the first country
to be granted
associate membership,
which demonstrates
the high regard
that the international
research community
holds for Australian
life scientists.”
The membership
means that Australian
research institutions
can become EMBL
Partner Laboratories
and will also
foster collaborations
between EMBL's
world leading
scientists and
these laboratories,
something that
Monash University,
the University
of Western Australia,
the University
of Queensland,
the University
of Sydney and
the CSIRO have
indicated an
interest in.
The EMBL associate
membership will
officially start
in January 2008
and initially
will last for
seven years.
