Second Call for Proposals: Three Additional Projects Selected

NRP 84 investigates the usefulness of new plant breeding technologies and addresses their broader societal embedding. While the first call mainly focused on technical feasibility, the second call concentrated on modules 2 and 3 (Ethics, Society and Economics, as well as Regulatory Considerations). The newly selected projects strengthen the programme’s ability to address societal challenges, public debate and communication.

From Moral Foundation Theory to Language and Media Diversity

One project will investigate how polarised public debate can block constructive engagement on plant breeding technologies. Led by Stephen Milford (University of Basel), Gabriele Balbi (Università della Svizzera italiana) and Mirjam Hauser (FHNW University of Applied Sciences and Arts), this project will study how moral foundations shape entrenched positions in discussions that increasingly unfold on social media. The team will explore how moral values and concerns, such as harm/care or fairness/reciprocity influence attitudes toward new breeding technologies. By mapping these moral foundations and testing ways to reframe arguments so they resonate with different audiences, the project seeks to reduce polarisation and support more productive dialogue.

Another project, led by Rui Mata from the University of Basel will address how communication about new breeding technologies can reach a public that is diverse in language, culture and media habits. The project will analyse decades of Swiss public discourse to understand how arguments around plant breeding have evolved, which themes persist and which perceptions endure. The project will also identify psychological and cultural factors that guide the perceptions of different population segments. Finally, it will test which communication strategies and formats work best for different groups, from traditional media to short videos to digital platforms.

The third project examines why products of genome editing have struggled to reach markets in European societies despite a decade of scientific progress. The work by Véronique Boillet and Christine Frison from the University in Lausanne and the University in Liège, Belgium, respectively, will investigate how longstanding legal and institutional frameworks in Switzerland and the EU create a path dependency that slows the discussion around new breeding technologies. The team will analyse existing and emerging regulations from both legal and philosophical perspectives.

The Way Forward

Together, the three new projects will broaden NRP 84’s capacity to address the non-technical challenges that shape the future of plant breeding in Switzerland. They will bring social and communicative understanding, as well as legal clarity, to an area marked by fast scientific development and evolving public expectations. Their findings will thus provide a solid scientific basis and foster public trust, guiding Switzerland in responsibly navigating both the opportunities and concerns tied to new plant breeding technologies.