Conclusions

Advances in science and technology (including in the area of fruit and vegetable biotechnology) mean that people in the developed world are living longer and healthier lives than ever before. However, people also have increased expectations regarding the extent and effectiveness of regulatory protection. The public’s increased anxiety regarding risk is likely to be linked to changes in the processes that generate hazards (increasing globalisation, with potential for negative impact on food security, large-scale production of commodities, and uncertain technological implications regarding safety and ecological impact). This has resulted in a need to change institutional terms of reference and procedures, in particular to broaden the base of public consultation and dialogue on risk issues.

There are a variety of practical and ethical reasons for policy-making bodies to involve lay people in decision making on issues in which the public has a stake. Political theorists and ethicists discuss concepts such as democracy, procedural justice, and human rights, in providing the moral basis for involvement; but in a practical and expedient sense, making decisions without knowledge of the views of the public majority, or without public support, is liable to lead to confrontation, dispute, disruption, boycott, unrest, distrust, and simple public dissatisfaction. This need for public involvement would seem particularly evident in the food domain, as the food we eat, its taste, safety, price, and so on, are of fundamental, unavoidable and everyday interest to all members of society. The development of novel fruits and vegetables must take consumer attitudes as a starting point (implying that it is important to understand what consumers want in terms of novel products). Consumers should not be regarded as a potential barrier for technology innovation, but rather as partners in developing science that can improve the quality of life of people all over the world.