Irish teenagers are not receptive to notions that GM foods are the creation of a modern-day Frankenstein.
In fact, the majority believes biotechnology may soon have the same relevance to their lives as the Internet, according to entries in a competition for transition year students.
A strong endorsement of the technology was reflected in 90 per cent of entries in the Biotechnology in Farming and Food Challenge 2000, which was promoted by the organisation AgriAware and the Department of Education, with sponsorship by The Irish Times.
More than 1,000 students entered and their pro-GM attitudes contrast with opinion polls of the greater population which indicate more caution about the technology.
But teenager approval is not about GM's newness or its "coolness". For with approval came recommendations for extensive monitoring and often meticulous evaluation of the potential of "designer foods" and global food needs.
The vast majority was critical of a lack of public education on biotechnology and many concluded there was a lack of leadership on the Government's part. The competition, which has a £12,000 prize fund, offered winners the opportunity to submit their findings to Government.
Biotechnology in farming is controversial and this was indicated in differing views but students felt strongly the technology had to be adopted and developed, said Mr Tom Keane, chief executive of Agri-Aware, which promotes understanding of agricultural issues.
Agri-Aware chairman Mr John McCullen said students were "the discerning consumers and decision-makers of the future and most likely to be unbiased and analytical in this controversial debate."
The project offered them an opportunity to look at the issues outside the standard curriculum and provided a platform for informed debate, he added.
The winning students were: Eilish Bouse, Clare Heffernan and Denise McElligott from Colaiste Mhuire, Crosshaven, Co Cork. Runners-up were: Deirdre Phelan, Julie Burke, and Nuala Doyle from Loreto College, St Stephen's Green, Dublin. Ross Kelly, Darach Lee, James McElvaney and John McGuirk of St Macartan's College, Monaghan were third. TD's warning on GM food: page 6
