Project Stakeholder Management

Genetically modified (GM) crops are already being used in many countries including the United States, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, India, China, Australia, and some European countries. According to a report in The Economist, the market for agricultural biotechnology doubled from about $3bn to $6bn from 2001 to 2006, and is predicted to rise to over $8bn by 2011.

The use of GM crops to produce food has, however, been fiercely resisted in the UK and some other countries in Europe due to various concerns about their safety and possible environmental damage. For a balanced view, take a look at this Wikipedia article.

From a Stakeholder Management perspective, I was wondering why the perceptions of GM crops were so different between different countries. Reports indicate that GM crops give higher yields with less water, energy and fertiliser, thereby solving some of the following problems:

• An increasing worldwide demand for food
• A decrease in the amount of land and water available for farming
• An increase in the cost of energy

In general, farmers seem to like the new varieties of pesticide resistant crops as they can grow more with less, and therefore make more profit. But how to convince sceptical European consumers? It appears that we may, however, be approaching a ‘tipping point’ where the momentum for change becomes unstoppable and GM crops become more readily accepted by consumers, as new varieties of GM crops are predicted to provide strong benefits to consumers.

We may soon see soya oil that tastes better, is healthier, and produces no trans-fats during cooking. When consumers (stakeholders) see the benefits to them, in the form of healthier food, then we might see the more widespread acceptance of GM foods. That is exactly what we say in Project Stakeholder Management - show people the benefits of your project and they will become your supporters. Keep monitoring the news for updates on the GM food situation.