REJECTech: When science lost the people

From today to 2050 — how the scenario may become reality:

• Skepticism, fake news, and heated discussions in the (social) media have become a global phenomenon. This development also affects agricultural topics as the use of glyphosate illustrates. Europe becomes particularly precautionary
• As the possibilities from technologies like gene editing, A.I. and robotics increase, so does the probability of failed experiments
• A steady stream of food scandals and examples of scientific misconduct also do its share to further erode European society’s trust in science, industry as well as in the institutions that are supposed to supervise them
• Over the years, sustainability becomes synonymous with the absence of advanced biotech. Eventually, the EU enacts strict regulation to please skeptical voters and large agri companies lose their license to operate
• The rejection of technology has its price, however: growing challenges from climate change and low productivity in agriculture result in supply problems and increasing prices. As agriculture develops significantly slower in the EU than abroad, trade imbalances arise and force EU agriculture to find alternative value adding activities