The public trust neither the government nor the biotechnology industry over the introduction of genetically modified crops - but they are not fundamentally opposed to the technology, official research has shown.

People fear businesses could be the only winners from commercialisation of GM technology in Britain, according to research carried out for the Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Council, the official government watchdog for the GM industry.

The report for the AEBC by research consultants Corr Willborn concluded: "While it is fair to say that currently people's attitudes towards GM are characterised by anxiety and suspicion, this is not to say that the public cannot envisage positive benefits."

However, it went on: "Many are far from certain that the potential benefits will be passed on, for example, to consumers in the west and/or to potential beneficiaries in the developing world. Thus, they can envisage the benefits only accruing to the corporate developers". The research illustrates the government's dilemma, with the row over GM crops expected to intensify this year as trials finish and pressure increases for an end to the European Union's informal moratorium on
commercialisation.

The work was commissioned by the AEBC ahead of its public debate on GM crops, due to start in May. The research showed there was public enthusiasm for the debate, but fears remained that it could be "nothing more than an empty PR exercise". The debate, which is expected to involve thousands of people, will revolve around a series of national and local conferences.