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Academic and Industry Interview Questions

In order to design our public survey and gain a better understanding of the issue of Genetically Modified Organisms in the dairy industry, we interviewed industry and academic professionals with backgrounds in Biomedical Ethics, Dairy Production, Yogurt Marketing, and Nutritional Education. The video below is a summary of our interviews and highlights the many poignant points brought up.

Academic and Industry Interview

Basics:

• Different countries, scientific groups and companies’ definition of GMOs vary. What defines GMOs on a scientific level? What defines GMOs on a legal level?
• What might be bigger barrier to having a GMO product accepted by the public?

Safety:

• Are there dangers associated with GMOs? If so, what are these dangers?
• If GMOs need trial rounds to prove their harmful or harmlessness, would it be worth investing in testing them? Why or why not?

Social Impact and Public Perception:

• Are there actual harms associated with GMOs or is there a disconnect between public perception and the real science?
• Is there a legacy or history that influences the perception on GMOs?
• How would the public view GMO produce as opposed to GMO dairy products? How?
• How does the idea of Genetically Modified bacteria differ than that of other GMOs (example. Crops) in the public’s opinion?

Ecological and Economical:

• Is there a capacity for GMO food products to become the most sustainable food source?
• What role does or will GMOs have in developing food and nutrition issues around the world?
• How would GMOs affect the industry? For example by minimizing work for farmers etc?
• Would GMOs help harvesting in more extreme climates and minimize shipping times and costs as a result?

Legal and Moral:

• Have the policies and regulations kept up with current practices with regards to GMOs?
• Some argue that we do not currently know enough about GMOs to determine if they are safe and we should therefore assume that they are harmful. Is this a valid argument?
• Are we ethically obligated to inform the public if and how the products they’re buying was genetically modified?

Would you consider using GMOs if:

• The price of GMO food products was lower than that of non-GMO food products?
• GM foods have less ecological impact? (For example not using animals as the meat source)
• We produced food from waste streams including wood and pulp?
• GMOs could replace pesticides and antibiotics?
• Genetically Modified foods tasted better than organic foods?
• GMOs have medical benefits?