Development of Communication Strategies for Adoption of Agri-Biotechnology in the Asia-Pacific

The challenges of providing food security for the developing world have perhaps never been so extreme, with the introduction of new technologies being matched by land degradation, water concerns and the often uncertain impacts of a changing climate. In short, we will need to produce more food on less land. Adding to the problem is the distrust and fear around some new technologies – particularly biotechnologies – that have created a divide between scientists and farmers, decision makers and the public. There have been many attempts to bridge these divides, but few success stories. As a result, there is an urgency to put similar scientific rigour into communications about agri-biotechnology that has gone into much of the scientific development of products. This report represents an attempt at providing such a rigour. It uses the collective wisdom of experts representing many countries, who have focussed on solid communication and social science research, and best-practice examples, to provide a new approach to engaging with key stakeholders. By approaching communication problems from many different perspectives, it provides many different solutions, which will hopefully contribute to ensuring that national choices about food futures are based on facts and evidence of benefits. It is an issue we cannot afford to approach with anything but our best.