Paper short abstract:

The lack of clarity about how to assess socio-economic impacts of agricultural biotechnologies prevents effective incorporation of such considerations in risk assessment frameworks. We discuss how stakeholder deliberations may provide useful insights on what these assessments should entail.

Paper long abstract:

Policy-makers, both within the EU and internationally, are increasingly recognizing the need to broaden the scope of regulatory frameworks for agricultural biotechnologies beyond an assessment of risk to human health and the environment. Incorporation of broader considerations, such as socio-economic impacts, in risk assessment of agricultural biotechnologies is however limited by a lack of practical steps and indicators for how to do this. Using the case of late blight resistant GM potato, we describe examples of stakeholder deliberations intended to promote reflection on, and articulate ways to, assess sustainability, ethical and social considerations of this particular GM crop in a Norwegian agricultural context. This type of GM potato has been tested in field trials on several locations in Europe and is claimed to be the first example of a GM crop that intends to solve a serious problem for Norwegian and European farmers. Governance-relevant aspects identified by the stakeholders included issues such corporate control over genes and seed markets, opportunities for independent research, consumer trust and choice, and the durability of this control strategy. The stakeholders expressed diverging views about the relevance of the assessment criteria identified by through these deliberations. Considering stakeholder knowledge and perspectives when developing broader risk assessment frameworks may contribute to more socially responsible governance approaches of agricultural biotechnologies.