The continuing GMO food controversy highlights an important issue — the unsaid danger here is how much money and effort is being put on GMO food safety instead of things that clearly have an actual health impact. At the root are the problems that scientific uncertainty poses for government regulators. I contend that many politicians and others in decision making positions don’t understand scientific uncertainty. Furthermore, it is just as problematic that most scientists don’t understand the regulatory system. Integrating science based risk assessment and policy based risk management is diabolical in its complexity, yet one of the most important public policy challenges of our time. How can we stop unfounded fear from forcing governments to waste scarce resources by responding to poorly placed perceptions of risk??
Posted on: Thu, 13 Jun 2013 14:47:37 +0000