The results found that most respondents (56% globally) feel positively towards the use of NGTs in agriculture, especially if these techniques (including CRISPR and RNAi) are used to make crops more resistant to climate change.
Sentiment about agricultural innovations is lower compared to healthcare, however.
In Europe, 47% of respondents had a positive view of NGTs and 34% were neutral, while only 12% held a negative view. This openness is “compelling”, Leaps by Bayer said, considering NGT usage remains heavily restricted in the European Union.
To some degree, perceptions about NGTs align with the degree of regulation in a respondent’s country, it said.
For example, Australia, Brazil, China, Japan, and the US have adopted more permissive frameworks for the use of NGTs in agriculture, and perceptions among respondents in those countries were more likely to be positive.
In contrast, the EU has more restrictive regulations in place, with NGTs currently limited. The EU is however currently proposing new legislation (like that in the UK) to streamline the process and differentiate NGTs from traditional GMOs.
These regulatory shifts could open the door for broader adoption in Europe, Leaps by Bayer said, helping to align public optimism and openness with policy changes that encourage innovation.
Knowledge eliminates doubts
It concluded that scepticism about innovation is fuelled by a lack of knowledge and trust. The study found a clear correlation between how much respondents know about a type of innovation and how optimistically they feel about it.
The message to innovators in agriculture is to work to build trust with consumers, said Dr. Juergen Eckhardt, EVP and head of Leaps by Bayer.
“We understand that addressing the world’s greatest challenges requires more than investing in transformative technologies – it demands building societal acceptance, he said. “This begins with actively listening to people’s hopes and concerns about breakthrough science.”
He is confident, he added, the new report “will equip innovators across our field to engage society more meaningfully and effectively”.
Sentiment about ag lower than healthcare
Leaps by Bayer has invested over $2 billion in more than 65 companies pursuing breakthroughs in both health and agriculture. The survey questioned more than 13,000 people in 13 countries across the globe. The research also explored public perceptions of cell and gene therapies, AI in medicine and cultivated meat.
Sentiment about agricultural innovations is slightly lower compared to healthcare, the research found. Some 64% felt positive about the impact of AI on the future of human health, and 74% were optimistic about the potential for cell and gene therapy to cure diseases. Cultivated meat drew the least support of the four innovations analysed, with 39% expressing a positive view.