| Summary: | This study empirically examines the level of consumers’ understanding and knowledge about food crisis and Genetically Modified (GM) foods. Through self reported experiences on consumers’ understanding and knowledge about food crisis and GM foods, the consumers that had been shopped in hypermarkets around Shah Alam area were surveyed. Result revealed the consumers do understand and have knowledge about global and Malaysian food crisis, but
have little knowledge and understanding about GM foods. In further, it can be concluded that during global and Malaysian food crisis, there is a need for GM foods and GM foods might be a viable option to deal with the crisis. Consumers’ understanding from the interviews were
validated and supported through qualitative information obtained from interview approach. The face-to-face interview approach was conducted among experts of various areas such as biotechnology, economic and food industry and it provided truly significant and in-depth information for this study. The overall findings from this study could be streamlined and at the end it clearly indicates that during global and Malaysian food crisis, there is a need for GM
foods and the scientific advance such as GM foods is important to deal with the long term needs. However, it is important to see a more focused initiative and systematic development for biotechnology in Malaysia. Thus, efforts to increase funding and improve coordination between government agencies, private companies, academicians and experts responsible for food assistance are all excellent initiatives that have to be looked into.
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