Supporters or Opponents: Will Cultural Values Shape Consumer Acceptance of Gene Editing?

CRISPR-Cas9 (gene editing) increases the speed and precision of genetic improvements in plant breeding; however, relatively little is known about how consumers will respond to this innovation. Drawing upon Cultural Cognition Theory, the paper examines the influence of cultural worldviews on consumer acceptance of gene editing. Data from an online survey of Canadians show that a hierarchical (versus egalitarian) worldview, positive attitudes toward science and technology, and lower levels of prior risk perceptions influence public acceptance. Attitudes toward the use of gene editing in plant breeding appear less firmly entrenched than for genetic modification, with implications for the scientific community and policymakers.