Abstract:
In 1995. ESRC researchers taking part in the Global Environmental Change Programme warned that the Government would, sooner rather than later, run into serious public difficulties in its handling of genetically modified food (see Hot story. slow burn). It took nearly four years for the prediction to come true, but when it did, the controversy rapidly became one pf tie Government's biggest headaches. Ironically, this is a Government that prides itself ir its ability to stay in touch with public opinion. So what went wrong? Why have successive Governments seemed almost wilfully to ignore the insights of research on these issues? Are t-ere lessons to be learned from nuclear power, BSE and Brent Spar for the management of GM foods?