According to the Public Perceptions of Biotechnology Study of 2016, public familiarity with the term “biotechnology” has more than doubled from 21% in 2004 to 53% in 2015. The same survey, initiated by the Human Sciences Research Council and commissioned by the department of science and technology’s (DST) Public Understanding of Biotechnology Programme, revealed that the South African public is more inclined to see the impact of genetically modified (GM) foods as good for the economy and safe to eat. However, it also said that the public were not as informed as their international counterparts.