Integrated assessments of emerging food technologies - some options and challenges

摘要

The food and agriculture sector is experiencing rapid technological development. Some technological innovations are specific to food production, while other innovations are food related applications of generic emerging technologies, like biotechnology, nanotechnology, synthetic biology, etc. Consumers and the general public in Europe take a more or less cautious attitude towards this development. In order to secure public trust in the food sector there are established risk assessment procedures. Impact assessments may also be carried out, as well as ad hoc technology assessments. Emerging food technologies often involve a diversity of values and may have uncertain effects on both our health and the environment. This complexity indicates that there is a need for systematic and integrated assessments in this field. Integrated assessments have a long tradition in the context of sustainability and in this paper I draw on this discourse in a discussion of the place for integrated assessments in emergingfood technologies.