News

GMO Answers site expands

The industry website that answers questions about genetically modified foods now has 200 experts providing answers. Mike Stebbins, communications director for GMO Answers, tells Brownfield Ag News that’s grown from 50 experts when the site began four years ago. And he says they are not all from companies that make and sell GMO seed, “Everything from farmers to dietitians, to scientists and researchers, academics, people working in trade associations as well as our member companies, people who are working those companies as well.”

In four years, GMO Answers has replied to 13-hundred questions but has had millions of visitors. Stebbins says the effort to educate consumers is working, “Our research has definitely shown that there is both an increased awareness of GMOs and crops in their food as well as an increased acceptance of GMOs in their foods as well.”

While the basic questions about safety, health and nutrition are still coming in, Stebbins says they are getting more specific questions about what people have seen reported in the media.

GMO Answers is funded by members of The Council for Biotechnology Information which includes BASF, Bayer, Dow AgroSciences, DuPont, Monsanto and Syngenta.