Awareness of and attitudes towards modern biotechnology of selected UPLB [Philippines Univ. Los Banos, College, Laguna, Philippines] personnel

A study to determine awareness level and attitudes towards modern biotechnology of selected personnel from the administrative staff, research, extension and professional staff (REPS) and faculty from biotech-related units and nonbiotech-related units from the University of the Philippines Los Banos was conducted. Majority of the respondents were highly aware of biotechnology (70%) and cloning (64%) based on the amount of information they had read or heard about it. Almost 80% were willing to buy genetically modified (GM) food with improved characteristics although 42% said that their being GM would not have any effect on their buying decision. Sixty percent believed they would benefit from biotechnology in the near future. About 82% would strongly support the US Food and Drug Administration's policy on labeling a product only if there is an allergen or substantial change in the foods composition. However, when asked in another manner, 44% of them supported the view that any biotechnology-derived food should be labeled as such even if it has the same nutritional and safety characteristics as other food. On the issue of cloning, 54% found cloning of plants for food acceptable while 21% found it unacceptable and 19% were neutral. Cloning of animals for food was found to be acceptable by 37% of respondents, respectively, and somewhat unacceptable by 32%. Cloning of humans was unacceptable to the greatest number (79%). Cloning of human organs was however acceptable to 38%, and unacceptable and somewhat unacceptable to 25% and 12%, respectively. The rest were either neutral or did not know and did not respond to the questions. REPS and faculty from biotech-related personnel were more highly aware of biotechnology than the administrative staff. They also showed more positive attitude towards buying genetically modified food, as well as perceived benefits from biotechnology. Gender was significantly related with awareness level but not with attitudes of biotech-related personnel. However, it was not significantly related with either awareness level of the attitudes of non-biotech-related respondents. Awareness based on amount of information read about biotechnology and cloning also positively correlated with respondent's buying decisions, perceived benefits from biotechnology, labeling opinions, and acceptability, of cloning-related. On the whole, the biotech-related personnel showed higher level or awareness and more positive attitudes towards biotechnology than the nonbiotech-related personnel