2nd British-German Environment Forum

Risky Business? Managing Risk and Building Trust in Policy on GMOs and Chemicals

BGEF 2000 focused on the issues of public trust and risk management facing decision makers dealing with policy on genetically modified foods and chemicals. The conference, generously supported by the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Anglo German Foundation, and kindly hosted by the LSE, brought together experts from Government, business, research and NGOs from Britain and Germany, and ranged across issues which have emerged as key challenges for policy makers in both countries:

- The crisis of public trust in GM technology following the uproar over GM crop testing
- The problems of assessing and communicating complex risks and benefits from innovation
- The challenge of devising better processes for public engagement in debates concerning technological innovation and risk management

The BGEF 2000 event covered two days of plenary debate and small workshop discussions, dealing first with GM technology issues and then with chemicals policy. The conference was opened by the Rt. Hon. Michael Meacher MP, the UK Minister for the Environment.

• For a detailed programme please click here
• To view the conference report (29 KB) please click here