63% of U.S. Consumers Support Voluntary GMO Policies

Jun 03, 2014

By Amanda Brodhagen, Farms.com

A new study suggests that 63% of Americans support the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s existing voluntary policy for labeling genetically modified (GM) foods.

Interestingly, the 63% figure is consistent with survey results from previous years.

The survey which was conducted by the International Food Information Council Foundation also found that consumers generally had positive perceptions of GM foods. Specifically, GM foods that offer additional nutritional benefits. The study also found that consumers overall confidence in the safety of U.S. food supply to be strong at 67%.

Comparatively, only one percent of the survey participants said that biotechnology is something that they avoid when purchasing food. A small percentage 4% of respondents identified biotech as something they want information about on their food labels.

Sparingly, a sizable majority of Americans said that they have favorable perceptions about modern agriculture practices. Percentage wise, 73% viewed modern agriculture as sustainable and 71% said that it produces nutritional food.

The survey was conducted between March 28 and April 7, 2014, and the sample size was 1000 participants.

Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.