Stakeholder attitudes toward GMOs in the Philippines, Mexico, and South Africa: The issue of public trust

SummaryThis paper investigates stakeholder perceptions and interests in the public debates on the risks and benefits of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in developing countries. The surveys conducted in Mexico, the Philippines, and South Africa showed that most local stakeholders in these countries tend to have pragmatic views toward the use of GMOs. Yet, they also revealed a trend toward political polarization that is linked to the transatlantic dispute on GMOs. We argue that it is not just power politics but also the increasing competition for public trust that explains why European stakeholders turned out to be so successful in influencing attitudes and regulation on GMOs in developing countries. National academia, which proved to be the most trusted stakeholder in all three countries and less involved in foreign-funded advocacy work, may be crucial in abating political polarization and facilitate pragmatic political action.