The endeavour to ‘redesign’ life at the molecular level has been widely characterised as controversial. Subsequently, agricultural biotechnology has rarely been out of the news in Australia and elsewhere throughout the last few decades during its development. Proponents are certain of the benefits, while critics are equally certain of the costs or hazards. Such polarisation is especially intense with regard to the introduction of genetically modified (GM) food crops. This thesis presents the findings from a survey of Australian canola farmers and their perspectives on the widescale introduction and regulation of GM food crops in Australia in relation to scientific, social, environmental and commercial risk and uncertainty. It also draws upon an analysis of GM regulation in Australia to determine how farmers have been involved in GM technology policy making...