Kings University OER

The development of new products, the need to reduce energy consumption, and concerns over the food supply are other reasons for developing new food processing technologies. On the other hand, the emergence of change in certain socioeconomic factors may create a climate that forces or encourages the industry to change, economic incentives to the contrary. An understanding of the issues involved and their expected impacts on society is therefore an important consideration to policy leaders in legislative and policy deliberations. Policy issues arise from either perceived or expected impacts resulting from the adoption of technologies. Impacts may be positive, negative, or a combination of the two; and not all impacts create policy issues. That is, negative impact that are not severe or widespread may not arouse the attention of policymakers, while technologies with primarily favourable impacts may create issues only about whether policies should encourage development and adoption.