Trust in Scientists: A Global And Cypriot Perspective On Public Confidence

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

January 22, 2025

A recent global study, covering 68 countries including Cyprus and Greece, sheds light on the high levels of public trust in scientists and the widespread desire for their increased involvement in shaping societal and policy decisions. Published in Nature Human Behaviors, the research surveyed 71,922 individuals, offering the most detailed snapshot of global trust in scientists since the COVID-19 pandemic. The average global trust rating was 3.62 out of 5, reflecting a generally positive perception of scientists, though regional differences exist:

Countries With the Highest Trust

Egypt tops the list with a score of 4.30, followed by India, Nigeria, Kenya, and Australia.

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Countries With the Lowest Trust

At the bottom, Albania ranked lowest with a score of 3.05, closely followed by Ethiopia, Russia, Bolivia, and Kazakhstan.

Greece And Cyprus

Greece ranks 56th with a trust rating of 3.39, just below the global average, while Cyprus follows closely with a slightly higher score of 3.42, placing 52nd in the global rankings.

The findings suggest that a significant portion of the public views scientists as competent (78%), honest (57%), and concerned about the welfare of society (56%). Furthermore, the study reveals that 75% of respondents agree that scientific methods are the most reliable means of discovering truth. More than half of the participants (52%) also believe that scientists should have a more direct role in policymaking.

Key Areas For Scientific Research Focus

The survey indicates that the public wants scientific efforts to concentrate on:

Enhancing public health
Addressing energy challenges
Alleviating poverty

On the other hand, there is a clear reluctance to prioritize military and defense technology, with many participants feeling that current research in these areas is overemphasized.

While trust in scientists remains strong, only 42% of respondents believe scientists actively consider public opinions. Additionally, 83% of participants called for improved communication between the scientific community and the public, as many feel that scientific priorities don’t always reflect societal needs.

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Only 1% Of Cyprus Farms Use Precision Farming Technologies

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

July 24, 2026

Cyprus remains one of the European Union’s least digitised agricultural economies, with just 1% of farms using precision farming technologies in 2023, according to Eurostat.

The findings come as the EU continues to encourage the adoption of digital tools aimed at improving agricultural productivity, efficiency and sustainability.

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Internet Access Expands, But Digital Uptake Lags

Internet access has improved across the bloc, although adoption remains uneven. Eurostat found that 43% of EU farms had internet access in 2023, with northern and central European countries leading the way.

Denmark, Germany, Slovakia, Latvia, the Czech Republic and Austria all reported internet access rates above 90%.

Greater connectivity, however, has not translated into widespread digital adoption. Farm management information systems, which help farmers manage day-to-day operations, were used by only about 11% of EU farms. France was a notable exception, with around 60% of farms using the technology.

Precision Farming Concentrated In Larger Operations

Robotics adoption also remained relatively limited, with only about 7% of EU farms using robotic technologies. Overall, around 18% of farms with utilised agricultural area employed at least one precision farming technology or practice in 2023.

These included robotics for plant protection, band spraying, variable-rate application, precision crop monitoring and soil analysis. Despite representing fewer than one in five farms, these holdings accounted for around 44% of the EU’s utilised agricultural area.

The figures suggest that precision farming remains concentrated among larger agricultural businesses, where investment in digital technologies is typically easier to support.

Cyprus Lags Behind EU Leaders

Luxembourg, Finland and Estonia recorded the highest shares of utilised agricultural area managed by farms using precision farming technologies, each exceeding 75%.

At the other end of the ranking, Cyprus recorded just 1%, while Greece and Romania reported between 10% and 15%. The results indicate that Cyprus remains at an early stage of digital adoption in agriculture, even as precision farming becomes more widespread across parts of the European Union.

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