A strong opposition movement has developed against genetic engineering in agriculture around the world, especially in some countries of the European Union (EU). The move led to a moratorium in the EU and open acts of opposition, as well as hostility to imported genetically modified (GM) products. 

How can this strong hostility be explained when many institutions have presented biotechnology, including genetic engineering, in a very positive light from the very beginning and still consider it extremely promising? A better understanding of this opposition movement is helpful along with understanding its determinants, foundations and consequences.

Since the end of 1996, when GMO issues were widely publicized, trust in institutions and some technological developments had decreased. 

Indeed, the public is particularly concerned about contaminated blood (HIV), Mad Cow disease, asbestos, etc. strongly marked by various topics such as These problems led to strong distrust and led the public to believe that firms and public authorities sometimes overlook health risks to protect economic or political interests. 

Later, discussions about GMOs (ie, authorization, import, labeling, impact, etc.) were still widely publicized over food safety issues (eg, BSE, listeriosis, etc.). Also, as pollution and safety issues came to the fore, a movement criticizing the excesses of the agriculture and food system grew. 

The media and public debate have increasingly taken a critical look at GMOs. For this reason, information on GMOs has often been and continues to be critical or negative.

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