Will New Zealanders embrace nanotechnology in years to come? Can we expect to have our genes analysed so that we know which foods will ensure we live long, healthy lives? Are there future biotechnologies that we will want to use in relation to our food?

These are some of the questions being asked by scientists from Crop & Food Research and ESR in a new project called `Coming to the Table? funded by the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology.

Together with the food industry, the public and a range of other groups, the research will explore the types of food technologies they find acceptable so that investment in food research and food research projects themselves can be better targeted in the future.

The research will also break new ground in international social science research by trialling an innovative form of ?deliberative dialogue?. This involves early discussions between businesses, government, scientists and consumer groups so that everybody can see how each other views the new food technologies and their possible effects on people, the environment and economic development in New Zealand. Scientists and food companies will therefore have time to address any concerns before products reach the market.

The project represents a unique collaboration between government and industry stakeholders, social scientists at ESR and biophysical scientists at Crop & Food Research.

Crop & Food Research?s Nigel Larsen says the project is exciting because it seeks to engage at such an early stage with stakeholders. ?Our research asks if social and market risk aversion can be better understood through early engagement with key stakeholders. We hope the project will lead to better informed and more socially responsive investment decisions by science, industry and government.?

top of page