Analyzing public sentiment toward GMOs via social media between 2019-20
March 8, 2023
First author of a peer-reviewed study published in GM Crops & Food, analyzing public sentiment toward GMOs across social media platforms and exploring its implications for sustainable agricultural policy and misinformation.
Publication Details for Analyzing Public Sentiment toward GMOS Research Paper:
Published In: GM Crops & Food
Volume: 14, Issue 1, 2023, Pages 1–9
Authors: Manreet Sohi, Maurice Pitesky, Joseph Gendreau
Read the full paper on Taylor & Francis Online, it’s open access!
Motivation & Overview
This project marked my debut as a lead author in academic research. While challenging—like learning to swim by diving into the deep end—the experience provided invaluable insights into academic research. I am particularly grateful for my professor's guidance, which helped shape my understanding of academic writing and research methodology. My motivation to pursue agricultural research in my first year of university, despite entering as a Computer Science major, stemmed from my heritage. I was born in Punjab, India's agricultural heartland, where I witnessed climate change's effects on farmers, including drought-related hardships and suicides. The 2020–21 farmer protests in Punjab during my first year of university further emphasized these agricultural challenges.
Analyzing over 2 million social media mentions of GMOs (2019-2021), we used Boolean search queries and web scraping to study public sentiment. Our research showed that addressing misconceptions about GMOs is crucial, especially given their importance for climate adaptation and food security. The neutral and negative public perceptions we found significantly impact GMO adoption rates. This becomes especially important as we confront intensifying climate change impacts, such as droughts and flooding, which disproportionately affect agricultural communities like Punjab.
Key Findings
Analysis of over 2 million social media mentions revealed mixed public sentiment: 54% neutral, 32% negative, and 14% positive mentions
Findings suggest need for targeted educational campaigns to address misconceptions about GMO safety and benefits
Results highlight importance of social media in shaping public discourse and policy around agricultural biotechnology
Policy Recommendations
Include GMO education in standard curriculum to improve long-term understanding of environmental issues
Launch targeted social media campaigns and content moderation strategies on Twitter (62% of GMO discussions) to address misconceptions such as misinformation bots
Implement proactive measures to counter negative content spread, including educational outreach and careful bot deployment
Skills Applied:
Data Analysis and Visualization
Sentiment and Emotional Analysis
Policy analysis and strategic impact assessment
Boolean Search Query Design
End Result: This research highlighted the misinformation gap and contributed to discussions on addressing agricultural challenges, particularly in the context of worsening global warming and climate change impacts. This project marked my entry into academia as a lead author—an experience much like learning to swim by diving into the deep end. I'm incredibly grateful for this opportunity as it taught me how to think critically and write passionately while maintaining objectivity
Note: The paper has since been cited 7 times by other research papers, and, to my surprise, an interesting debate on Twitter (X), with an Anti-GMO account calling it "yet another government-funded propaganda." I wish I was paid for this. I imagine propaganda paychecks come with quite a few zeros at the end.