A new report by Leaps by Bayer, Boston Consulting Group and Ipsos UK examines public trust in agricultural innovation, including new genomic techniques and cultivated meat. Based on interviews in China, Germany and the United States, and a 2025 survey of more than 13,000 people across 13 countries, the report explores why attitudes toward breakthrough science differ.
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A report by Leaps by Bayer, Boston Consulting Group, and Ipsos UK examines public attitudes toward agricultural innovations, including new genomic techniques (NGTs) and cultivated meat, alongside broader views on breakthrough science. Drawing on interviews in China, Germany, and the United States, and a 2025 survey of more than 13,000 respondents across 13 countries, the findings show lower levels of enthusiasm for agricultural technologies compared to health innovations.
In high-income countries, food security and climate risks are perceived as less urgent than healthcare challenges, which may contribute to weaker support for agricultural innovation. Limited proximity to farming—around 1% of the population works in agriculture in Germany and the United States—is identified as a potential factor shaping perceptions.
Attitudes toward technologies such as NGTs are influenced less by technical understanding and more by values including safety, fairness, and naturalness. The report identifies three mindset groups—Optimists, Rationalists, and Skeptics—that shape responses across regions and demographics.
Trust levels also vary, with lower confidence in public institutions in high-income countries compared to China. The findings indicate that transparency, clear communication, and visible oversight are key factors in building public acceptance of agricultural technologies.
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