Why has genetic engineering been so controversial? Why is there such concern at the potential risks of eating foods that havenÔ´ been properly tested for safety? Most innovation by the food industry is demand-driven, a response to evolving consumer attitudes. Genetic engineering, however, came down from the top. It has been foisted on us. So, have the biotechnology corporations made a hideous mistake?
To answer the question we must look back to the early days of biotechnology, in the late 1980s.
With the discovery that it was possible to map genomes and manipulate genetic material the stock market went wild. Any company with a credible proposition was overwhelmed with funds as investors scrambled to be first aboard the gravy train. National governments committed hundreds of millions of public funds to support research. As with the dot.com boom, nobody could estimate future profits. but nobody wanted to miss out on the huge upside potential.
