Climate-Resilient Agriculture & Strengthening Food Security Starts with Trust: A Study of GMO Public Perception
March 2023
Project Type: Behavioral Research, Communication Strategy & Public Perception Analysis
Focus Areas: Food Security, Climate-Resilient Agriculture, Sustainable Development, Misinformation Mitigation, Public Engagement
Publication Details for Analyzing Public Sentiment toward GMOS Research Paper:
Published In: GM Crops & Food
Volume: 14, Issue 1, 2023, Pages 1–9
Authors: Manreet Sohi, Maurice Pitesky, Joseph Gendreau
DOI: 10.1080/21645698.2023.2190294 . Read the full paper on Taylor & Francis Online, it’s open access!
Overview
This project analyzes public sentiment toward genetically modified organisms (GMOs) to better understand the social barriers and opportunities surrounding biotechnology adoption. By examining over 2 million online mentions across platforms like Twitter, Reddit, and news outlets, the goal is to inform how public opinion can shape food policy, investment, and implementation of climate-resilient agricultural innovations. With global food systems increasingly under pressure from climate change, strengthening public trust in science-backed solutions like GMOs is vital to ensuring food security, sustainability, and equitable access to innovation.
Key Findings
Analysis of over 2 million social media mentions revealed mixed public sentiment: 54% neutral, 32% negative, and 14% positive mentions
Findings suggest need for targeted educational campaigns to address misconceptions about GMO safety and benefits
Results highlight importance of social media in shaping public discourse and policy around agricultural biotechnology
Policy Recommendations
Include GMO education in standard curriculum to improve long-term understanding of environmental issues
Launch targeted social media campaigns and content moderation strategies on Twitter (62% of GMO discussions) to address misconceptions such as misinformation bots
Implement proactive measures to counter negative content spread, including educational outreach and careful bot deployment
End Result: This research identified key sentiment and misinformation gaps around GMOs, contributing to ongoing efforts to strengthen food security and climate-resilient agriculture. As my first lead-author publication, it laid the foundation for my work at the intersection of public opinion, science communication, and sustainable development.