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Public perception of
Biotechnology in
South Africa
Ben Durham
IFPRI May 2009
SA Biotechnology
2001 – SA National Biotechnology Strategy
2003 – Creation of 6 institutions as main agents of strategy
4 Innovation support centres
1 Bioinformatics Platform/Network
1 Public Understanding of Biotech programme
2004 - Public Understanding of Biotechnology Survey
2007/8 - Approx 16 technology platforms created
- Approx 100 projects
- 38 companies created through innovation centres
- Survey
2009/10 - Technology Innovation Agency (TIA)
- Centres of Competence
SA Biotechnology
Public Understanding of Biotechnology Programme
Why PUB?
Government strategy developing SA Biotechnology.
Recognize controversy regarding GM; Stem cells; cloning
Set up a Communication institution to promote factual, science-based
evidence regarding biotechnology.
• Not pro-biotech
• Develop credibility and trust
Biotech Survey 2007
2007 Survey based on revised list-based OECD Biotech definition.
•78 biotechnology active companies, including 38 core biotech
companies
•1542 biotech products/services
•Revenues >R767 million
•Jobs 2 051 (biotech specific); 72 800 (all)
•90% of companies <50 employees
•Geographical distribution
•Demographics
80.8%
Response
rate
DNA/RNA 41%
Protein 24%
Cell & Tissue 37%
Process 36%
Sub-cellular 10%
Bio-informatics 23%
Nano-biotechnology 8%
Environmental 18%
Other 6%
Proportion of
companies involved
in various
technologies
PUB Survey 2004
• High response rate (82% completed survey)
• Baseline to measure impact – not to substantiate specific
views;
• Knowledge, attitudes & judgments, trust;
• Mostly quantitative;
• Census enumerator areas/GIS – repeatable;
• Face to face interviews; &
• Language of choice.• Race: 76% black
• 12% white
• 9% coloured
• 3% asian
• Age: 29% 16-20
• 24% 21-25
• 26% 26-60
• 20% 60+
• 7000 people aged 16+ in 500 enumerator areas;
• Representative of total SA adult population of 29
million;
• Gender: 46% male & 54% female
• 53% formal urban; 35% tribal; 9% informal urban;
4% rural;
PUB Survey 2004
Attitude
45
23
31
Negative Positive Indifferent
Knowledge25
75
Informed Uninformed
What do you think about biotech…
“Fake goods that come with Nigerians &
Chinese”
“something to do with brains”
“Weapons of mass destruction”
“something to do with cars”
PUB Survey 2004
34
27
14
11
9
4
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
Negative,
Uninformed
Indifferent,
Uninformed
Positive,
Uninformed
Negative,
Informed
Positive, Informed Indifferent,
Informed
Po
pu
lati
on
an
d S
eg
men
tati
on
%
PUB Survey 2004Employment Status - Uninformed
2122
23
16
22
18 19
24
0
5
10
15
20
25
Total Indifferent,
Uninformed
Negative,
Uninformed
Positive,
Uninformed
Unemployed Permanent
Employment Status - Informed
2119
21
16
22
20
25
41
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
Total Indifferent,
Informed
Negative,
Informed
Positive,
Informed
Unemployed Permanent
25% informed75% uninformed
Survey sampleEmployment
Average Houseshold Income -
Uninformed
R 4,244.46
R 1,966.73R 2,768.98
R 7,423.16
-1002
9000
Total Indifferent,
Uninformed
Negative,
Uninformed
Positive,
Uninformed
Average HH income
Average Housheold Income - Informed
R 4,244.46 R 4,454.19
R 6,436.43
R 9,898.96
-2
10000
Total Indifferent,
Informed
Negative,
Informed
Positive,
Informed
Average HH income
Household
income
PUB Survey 2004
Ethnicity- Uninformed
73
82 80
67
9 11 9 73 1 2 3
11
2 6
15
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Total Indifferent,
Uninformed
Negative,
Uninformed
Positive,
Uninformed
Black Coloured Asian/Indian White
Ethnicity - Informed
73 77
65
40
9 7 612
3 5 6 511 9
20
42
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Total Indifferent,
Informed
Negative,
Informed
Positive,
Informed
Black Coloured Asian/Indian White
25% informed75% uninformed
Survey sample
Ethnicity
PUB Survey 2004Source of information - Uninformed
22
14
21
26
20
16
23
30
15
20
16
1111
5
12 1210
24
64
109
13
9
4 3 421 1 2 1
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
Total Indifferent,
Uninformed
Negative, Uninformed Positive, Uninformed
Universities
Media
SA Government
Environmental groups
Dont know
Consumer organisations
Religious organisations
Industry (Private sector)
Knowledge - Like to get information - Informed
22
31 3134
20
13
22
12
1518
15
7
11
4
9
23
10 9
5
2
10
4
10 10
4
10
4 313
03
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
Total Indifferent, Informed Negative, Informed Positive, Informed
Universities
Media
SA Government
Environmental groups
Dont know
Consumer organisations
Religious organisations
Industry (Private sector)
UNINFORMED
INFORMED
Where would like to get info
PUB Survey 2004
=>Vote for continuation
Which biotechnology practices should stop or continue?
17
2221
13
62
49
55
61
22
30
2425
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Food (Bread & cheese) GM crops - pest
resistent
Medicines Biodegradable plastics
Perc
en
tag
e o
f R
esp
on
ses
Stop
Continue
Don't Know
PUB Survey 2004
3
1
9.5
21
1
3
1
1
21
15.6
22
0 5 10 15 20 25
Percentage of respondents
Pesticide content
GMO content
Fat content
Health benefits
Grown locally
Country of origin
Certified organic
Irradiation
Ingredients
Other
Don't know
Desired information on food labels 51% don’t read
food labels
PUB Survey 2004
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
All media
TV
Radio
Magazines & newspapers
Internet
Other sources
Not interested
Pe
rce
nta
ge
of
res
po
nd
en
ts
Sources of biotechnology information
Principles
• Biotech is more than GMO’s (& be inclusive)
• GMO’s =>Polarized debate
• +ve attitude links with higher lsm; income;
education.
• Important to focus on positive features:
– Health benefits
– Environmental benefits
– Job creation
– Sustainable livelihoods
• SA strategy for public awareness
Conclusions
• Engagement, not information
• Biotech – creating jobs
– Exploiting South African ideas
• Case studies - moving from a purely abstract approach (cloning/GM/stem cell) to more relevant SA examples.
• Key message:– Responsible biotechnology
– But fine to provoke discussion with controversy
• Government biosafety – promoting transparency; public access; decision justifications
PUB Approach
Public Understanding of Biotechnology (PUB) Programme
Media
Responding to media (accuracy & balance); coordinating media; monitoring media
Developing biotech material – tv; thought pieces; posters; cartoons; articles
Training journalists – media round tables on SA relevant topics
Training researchers – workshops and one-on-one’s
Drama – audience participation plays
Exhibitions – Science Festival; Bio2Biz; INSITE
Conferences/seminars/workshops
Website
Curriculum development
Survey
BIC Approach
Biotechnology Innovation Centres (funding innovation projects & platforms)
Promote their biotech activities
Marketing managers
Launches of companies/platforms/products (often with Ministerial support)
Bio2Biz
Regional Fora (quarterly events)
Promotional material
Press
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