The Dutch Approach to Safety Governance of GM Agriculture - Governing Risk in GM Agriculture - page 108

An Evaluation and Recommendation Step
Given the uncertainties of “scientific facts,” political decisions on sci-
entific advances are rarely final. 71 In this stage, the “front office” ana-
lyzes the strengths, limits, and uncertainties of the risk/benefit assess-
ment. Where ambiguity exists, the process for ranking decision options
is jointly done by explicit dialogue between the “front office” members,
risk managers, stakeholders, and the public. This step acknowledges that
science alone cannot solve uncertain and ambiguous phenomena associ-
ated with value disputes in society. 72 The participatory ranking of policy
making prevents escalation of the conflict between GMO proponents
and opponents. 73 It should be noted that public participation and con-
sultation in the risk analysis cycle is a new concept 74 and requires more
development by VWA. 75 Public hearings, round tables, and consulta-
tions, such as those organized by VWA in case of the scare of acrylamide
in food, or other explicit dialogue might be included.
The Risk Management Measures and Policy Decision Step
This stage is directed toward the outcome of risk evaluation between
risk managers, stakeholders, specific groups at risk, and the public at
large. The risk managers at the Ministries of Agriculture and Health
decide on management options and the actions to take to mitigate any
71 S. Funtovicz et. al., Science and Governance in the European Union: A Contribution
to the Debate, 27 Science and Public Policy 327-336 (2000).
72 G. Meyer et. al., The Factualisation of Uncertainty: Risks, Politics, and Genetically
Modified Crops - A Case of Rape, 22 Agriculture and Human Values 235-242 (2005).
73 G. Gaskell, Science Policy and Society: The British Debate over GM Agriculture, 15
Current Opinion in Biotechnology 241-245 (2004).
74 Safe Foods Home Page, www.safefoods.nl.
75 O. Renn, Deliberative Approaches to Manage Systemic Risks. ESOF, Stockholm, 24-
29 August, Sweden, http://www.esof2004.org/pdf ppt/session material/ortwin renn 2.
ppt; See also Paganini Project Home Page, www.paganini-project.net and Gabriel
Abels, Experts, Citizens, and Eurocrats - Towards a Policy Shift in the governance
of Biopolitics in the EU, 6 European Integration Online Papers, 19 (2002), http://eiop.
or.at/eiop/texte/2002-019a.htm (last visited June 19, 2008).