Contents
About the survey
3
Main conclusions
5
Results – understanding of GMOs
6
Results – attitudes towards GMOs
12
Demographic breakdown – respondents with some understanding of GMOs
vs. those with no knowledge of them
20
About the survey (1/2)
Objectives


To assess the attitudes of Poles concerning the use of
genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in farming and
industry.
To identify their level of understanding of GMOs.
Objectives
 The survey was conducted in January 2012 among 1005
respondents. The sample is representative of the Polish
population aged 15 and over.
 The survey was carried out as part of a cyclical omnibus
study conducted by TNS Pentor. Respondents were
selected using stratified sampling. The survey was
conducted using computer-assisted personal interviewing
(CAPI).
 Data gathered during the survey was weighted to improve
the fit of the sample structure to the population structure.
About the survey (2/2)
– verification of answers
The first questions posed to the respondents aimed to reveal their level of understanding of GMOs and to eliminate respondents who had no knowledge
thereof. Interviews were discontinued with respondents who had never come across the term and those who stated they knew nothing or next to nothing
about the subject. Demographic data was collected from all respondents.
Survey questions
Q1. What does the acronym “GMO” stand for? (open question)
Q2. Have you come across the concept of genetically modified
organisms, abbreviated as “GMOs”?
a) yes
b) no (interview discontinued)
Respondent selection criteria
Interview continued with all respondents regardless of answer
(N=1005)
Interview continued with respondents who gave answer a
(522 respondents)
Q3. How would you describe your understanding of GMOs?
a) I have a good understanding of them.
b) I have a general understanding of them.
c) I know a little bit about them.
d) I have almost no knowledge of them. (interview discontinued)
Interview continued with respondents who selected answers a,
b and c (382 respondents)
The following ten survey questions concerned the understanding of and
emotional attitude and behaviour associated with GMOs.
Interview conducted with 382 respondents selected
based on their answers to previous questions
4
Main conclusions
National sample

Almost half of the Polish population has never come across the concept of genetically modified organisms.

One-sixth of respondents declared that they check all food labels for GMO content.

Respondents familiar with the term and declaring any level of understanding of GMOs are generally younger and have a higher level of education.
Sample limited to individuals familiar with the term and declaring any level of understanding of GMOs

Even in this group the level of understanding of GMOs is relatively low. Respondents asked specific questions about GMOs frequently select neutral
answers, such as “I neither agree nor disagree” or “I don’t know/it’s difficult to say”. The respondents’ self-assessment leaves no doubt in this aspect.

GMOs are mainly associated with plants and food products made from plants. The majority of respondents believe that such food has a negative
impact on consumer health.

Respondents perceive GMOs as a potential threat, while not rejecting the possibility they may have many benefits. This means their attitude to GMOs
is ambivalent.

They accept the development of GMOs for the production of medicines. Opinion is divided almost equally in terms of genetic modification of plants.
There is clear opposition to genetic modification of animals.

A quarter of respondents are in favour of a complete ban on genetic modification and introduction of any results into practice. A third of respondents
would agree to the introduction of GMOs providing research shows them to be harmless.

Two-thirds of respondents would use GMO-based medication to save their own life. Over a quarter would use such a treatment to improve their
quality of life. Under a fifth would use GMO-based dietary supplements.
5
UNDERSTANDING
OF GMOs
6
Understanding of GMOs (1/5)
What do you think the acronym GMO stands for? (open question)
Answers (without Likert scale)
Percentage of responses
I don’t know
65.9%
Genetically modified food
15.3%
Genetic modification
6.1%
Modified food
4.5%
Genetically modified organisms
3.3%
Other answers
4.5%
Three-quarters of respondents had trouble explaining what GMO stands for. Just under a fifth associated GMOs with food (the answers
“genetically modified food”, “modified food”). Only 3.3% of answers can be described as fully correct.
N=1005
7
Understanding of GMOs (2/5)
Have you come across the concept of genetically modified
organisms, abbreviated as “GMOs”?
How would you describe your understanding of GMOs?
Interview
discontinued with
141 respondents
No
Yes
51.9%
I have a
general
understanding of them
I have
almost no
knowledge
of them
48.1%
Interview
continued with 522
respondents
N=1005
Interview continued in
subsequent questions
with 382 respondents
N=523
Just over half of respondents reported any familiarity with the concept of genetically modified organisms. The interview was continued with only those
respondents. Just 2% of this group, in turn, described their knowledge of GMOs as “a good understanding”, with 22.9% saying they had “a general understanding”
and 26.9% admitting to knowing “almost nothing” about GMOs at all. Assuming that the 48.1% eliminated through the previous question also had at most a very
vague understanding of the topic, we can conclude that approx. 66% of Poles aged 15 and above do not even have a basic understanding of GMOs.
8
Understanding of GMOs (3/5)
In your view, genetically modified organisms are…
Answers (only one can be selected)
Percentage of responses
…any living organism containing a gene or genes from another
species?
29.1%
…any living organism, apart from humans, containing a gene or
genes from another species?
35.5%
…only plants containing a gene or genes from another species?
32.9%
…only animals containing a gene or genes from another species?
1.1%
I don’t know/it’s difficult to say
1.4%
Correct answer
Incorrect answer
The largest group of respondents (35.5%) indicated the correct definition of GMOs, although answers encompassing “any living
organism” or “only plants” scored only very slightly lower.
N=382
9
Understanding of GMOs (4/5)
In your view, genetic modification is used in…
Yes
No
Don’t
know
… soya to make it resistant to herbicides?
63.4%
6.4%
30.2%
…maize to make it resistant to pests (insects)?
71.9%
5.1%
23%
…rape to make it resistant to herbicides?
55.1%
10.1%
34.8%
…cattle to produce butter enriched with omega-3 fatty acids?
23.6%
29.8%
46.6%
30%
16.6%
53.3%
…bacteria to produce insulin?
Correct answer
Incorrect answer
The crop most often seen as associated with genetic engineering was maize, followed by soya and rape. Almost a quarter of
respondents selected the only incorrect answer (cattle). As many as 70% respondents were unaware that bacteria are being
genetically modified to produce insulin.
N=382
10
Understanding of GMOs (5/5)
In your view, cultivation of genetically modified plants is…
Answers (only one can be selected)
Percentage of
responses
…permitted in all countries under strictly controlled conditions and on an
experimental scale only.
8.7%
…permitted in all countries on an industrial scale with no limitations or legislative
restrictions.
8.5%
…subject to legislation as defined by individual countries, only cultivated on an
experimental scale in some countries and cultivated on an industrial scale in others.
60.6%
I don’t know/it’s difficult to say. (not specifically suggested to respondents as an
option)
22.2%
Correct answer
Incorrect answer
Over 60% of respondents gave the correct answer, stating that the scope of cultivation of genetically modified plants is defined by legislation in
individual countries. It should be noted that almost a quarter of respondents did not select any of the suggested answers.
N=382
11
ATTITUDES
TOWARDS
GMOs
12
Attitudes towards GMOs – perception of threats
To what extent to do you agree with the following statements?
Statement
Strongly agree
Agree
Neither agree
nor disagree
Disagree
Strongly
disagree
Introducing GMOs into cultivation only serves the
business interests of the companies producing them
28.6%
32.1%
29.5%
8.8%
1%
Food which includes GMOs has a negative impact on
consumer health
23.8%
33.3%
34.2%
7.6%
1.1%
Introducing GMOs to the environment will mean that
genes artificially introduced to GMOs will spread
uncontrollably
17.8%
35.8%
32.1%
12.6%
1.7%
Cultivating GMOs will result in a lowered biological
diversity
17.6%
27.8%
37.5%
15.3%
1.8%
Consuming food containing GMOs may uncontrollably
modify our own DNA
15.4%
35.9%
31.5%
14.8%
2.3%
Consuming food containing GMOs results in irreversible
hereditary changes in the consumer’s DNA – animal or
human
14.6%
29.6%
41.2%
12.3%
2.2%
A more detailed description of the results can be found on slide 15.
N=382
13
Attitudes towards GMOs – perception of benefits
To what extent to do you agree with the following statements?
Statement
Strongly agree
Agree
Neither agree
nor disagree
Disagree
Strongly
disagree
Genetic modification is a way of obtaining new varieties of plants with a
higher yield
24.5%
47.2%
18.5%
7.1%
2.7%
Genetic modification can improve the flavour, fragrance and other
attributes of food
20.7%
39.6%
25.7%
10.1%
3.9%
Genetic modification can expand cultivation to include regions previously
hostile to farming due to factors such as salinity, drought, extremely low
or high temperatures, etc.
15.4%
43.8%
28.7%
8.1%
4%
GMOs can be a source of new, previously unknown substances with
practical applications in medicine, plastics, fabrics, materials, etc.
14.4%
44.6%
31.9%
6.3%
2.9%
GMOs can be a source of important and useful substances such as
medicines, materials, biodegradable substances, etc.
11.4%
31.4%
43.1%
10.8%
3.4%
Cultivation of genetically modified plants leads to reduced degradation of
soil and water
10.3%
26.1%
42.4%
16.4%
4.9%
GMOs can help us find alternative energy sources
9.6%
30.7%
42.3%
14%
3.4%
Genetic modification can be used in the development of new methods of
exploiting natural resources
7.9%
25.4%
46.3%
15.7%
4.6%
A more detailed description of the results can be found on slide 15.
N=382
14
Attitudes towards GMOs – perception of benefits and threats,
description of results
NO UNDERSTANDING
 A significant number of respondents gave neutral answers such as “I neither agree nor disagree”. For most questions, the neutral option gained the highest
number of responses. This may be due to the respondents’ lack of understanding of GMOs, and/or to a certain sense of distance from the subject.
AMBIVALENT ATTITUDE
 The respondents generally did not exclude any potential benefits or threats of GMOs. Those who did not give neutral answers to the questions were equally
likely to agree with the positive and negative aspects of GMOs. We also recorded a relatively low number of answers “disagree” and “definitely disagree” for
most questions.
THREATS POSED BY GMOs
 The respondents most commonly stated that cultivating GMOs only serves the interests of companies producing them, and that food containing GMOs has a
negative impact on consumer health. A majority of respondents agreed with each of these statements.
BENEFTIS OF GMOs
 The respondents most commonly agreed with the statement that genetic modification makes it possible to create new varieties of plants which produce
more abundant crops and have improved parameters such as flavour and fragrance. A majority of respondents also agreed that GMOs make it possible to
obtain new substances such as medicines and expand cultivation to regions previously hostile to farming.
N=382
15
Attitudes towards GMOs – checking product labels
When buying food, do you check whether products contain any genetically modified ingredients?
always
3.80%
always
9.90%
never
57.90%
sometimes
12.30%
sometimes
32.20%
never
those having no
knowledge of
GMOs
22.00%
61.20%
Those declaring some understanding of
GMOs (N= 382)
All respondents, including those declaring
no knowledge of GMOs (N= 1005)
The majority of respondents do not check food labels for genetically modified ingredients. Assuming that the respondents eliminated at the first stage for having no
understanding of GMOs also do not check labels, it means that slightly over 16% of Poles check labels for GMOs with 3.8% doing so every time.
N=382
16
Attitudes towards GMOs – using medicines based on GMOs
Would you use medicines developed using GMOs…
…to save your own life
66.80%
11.70%
21.50%
yes
…to improve your quality of life
27.60%
43.80%
28.60%
no
I don't know
… as a dietary supplement
19.90%
0%
54.70%
20%
40%
25.40%
60%
80%
100%
A majority of respondents state that they would use medicines based on GMOs to save their own life. Over a quarter of respondents would take such medicines to improve
their quality of life. Under a fifth would use GMO-based dietary supplements. For all questions concerning using GMO-based medicines, a large share of respondents were
undecided.
N=382
17
Attitudes towards GMOs – direction of development
In your view, should new GMOs and technologies associated with them be developed…
strongly agree
…in the production of medicines and new therapies?
22.60%
…in raising animals? 6.30%
…in cultivating crops?
agree
0%
33.20%
16.20%
8.90%
disagree
20%
30%
20.70%
21.40%
23.90%
40%
hard to say
10.80%
12.70%
35.00%
31.40%
10%
strongly disagree
50%
21.20%
16.30%
60%
70%
19.50%
80%
90%
100%
Percentage of respondents
The majority of respondents accept the development of GMO technologies for the production of medicines and therapies. Opinions were split more or less
equally on the issue of plant cultivation, whereas a majority of respondents were against genetic modification of animals.
N=382
18
Attitudes towards GMOs – legislation
Would you personally…
Answers (choose one)
Answer as a
percentage
…ban all research on genetic modification and any introduction of GMOs into our daily lives?
25.4%
…only allow research to be conducted at controlled laboratories?
24.1%
…allow the introduction of GMOs to everyday use but only after long-term research shows that they have no
negative impact on humans, animals or the environment?
32.6%
…allow the introduction of GMOs to everyday use without any special research?
1.2%
I don’t know/it’s hard to say. (not specifically suggested to respondents as an option)
16.7%
One third of respondents support a cautious approach of introducing GMOs following long-term research demonstrating that they are harmless. A quarter
of respondents is completely against any research into genetic modification and introducing GMOs to everyday use. A slightly lower percentage of
respondents favours experiments conducted under controlled conditions. Ten percent of respondents support the introduction of GMOs without any
special research.
N=382
19
DEMOGRAPHIC
BREAKDOWN
A comparison of
respondents who have at
last a basic understanding of
GMOs vs. those with almost
no knowledge of them.
20
Demographic breakdown (1/3)
Education
middle school
primary / incomplete primary
3.80% 4.20%
vocational
school
higher
education
19.70%
31.60%
higher
primary / education
incomplete 10.70%
primary
secondary
23.30%
school
middle school
29.40%
9.00%
secondary
school
40.80%
Those declaring some understanding of
GMOs (N= 382)
vocational
school
27.60%
Those declaring no knowledge of GMOs
(N= 623)
The group of respondents declaring that they had at least some understanding of GMOs was significantly dominated by people with higher
education: here they were three times more numerous than in the group reporting no knowledge of GMOs. The latter group is dominated by
individuals with elementary school and vocational education.
21
Demographic breakdown (2/3)
Age
above 65
4.10%
15-25 years
15-25 years
22%
56-65 years
16.20%
26-35 years
18.90%
46-55 years
17.70%
36-45 years
21.10%
Those declaring some understanding of
GMOs (N= 382)
17%
above 65
21.50%
26-35 years
16.70%
56-65 years
16.70%
36-45 lat 46-55 lat
14.10%
14.00%
Those declaring no knowledge of GMOs
(N= 623)
Respondents in the group reporting no knowledge of GMOs were statistically older, with the group aged 65 and above being distinctly
overrepresented here.
22
Demographic breakdown (3/3)
Place of residence
cities up to
cities from 20,000 res.
100,000 to
10.50%
200,000 res.
7.50%
rural areas
36.80%
cities above
200,000 res.
18.80%
cities from
20,000 to
100,000 res.
26.50%
Those declaring some understanding of
GMOs (N= 382)
cities from
100,000 to
200,000 res.
cities up to
20,000 res.
14.60%
8.50%
rural areas
39.30%
cities above
200,000 res.
15.10% cities from
20,000 to
100,000 res.
22.50%
Those declaring no knowledge of GMOs
(N= 623)
Respondents reporting no knowledge of GMOs include a higher number of inhabitants of rural areas and small towns than those who have at
least some understanding of GMOs. However, the differences are not as marked as for the other demographic factors considered above
(education and age).
23
Research Department
Copernicus Science Centre
Ul. Wybrzeże Kościuszkowskie 20
00-390 Warszawa
[email protected]