How to combat misinformation about GMOs

The good news is that farmers are finally recognizing the damage that misinformation is doing to our industry…

The bad news is that the way we respond may actually be increasing consumer opposition rather than alleviating it…

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Dr. Stephan Lewandowsky, University of Bristol, U.K., says providing a narrative is a critical step. “It is not enough to debunk the myths, you need to provide an alternative that will fill the gap if misinformation is to be accepted as untrue. Explain the false information and the agenda of those pushing it. The most effective way to reduce the effect of misinformation is to provide an alternative explanation for the events covered by the misinformation.”

According to Lewandowsky, the other critical step is: “…[U]nderstand that those opposed to GMOs have natural, environmental, and purity goals. You cannot attack these values. Instead you have to deal with the science behind GMO.”

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Related on the SLP

Viewpoint: Toxic politics and the culture wars—MIT’s ‘Undark’ caves to the MAHA—RFK, Jr.—predatort lobby What are the consequences of agriculture misinformation—and how to fight back

No, GMO foods do not “damage genes, natural disposition and hormones, or decrease physical health and intelligence”

‘Why do we keep falling for this stuff?’ America’s love affair with snake oil salesmen and scams

The kooky logic behind the raft of spurious cancer claims from Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health

Lewandowsky has written The Debunking Handbook, an eight-page guide to why people believe misinformation and how best to debunk misinformation…

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The Debunking Handbook should be read by everyone interested in challenging the misinformation that plagues the agricultural industry. It can be found online here as a downloadable pdf.

The GLP aggregated and excerpted this blog/article to reflect the diversity of news, opinion and analysis. Read full, original post: We’ve been misinformed