East versus West: acceptance of GM foods by European and Asian consumers

2016 ◽  
Vol 46 (5) ◽  
pp. 628-636 ◽  
Author(s):  
Radhika Bongoni
Keyword(s):  
Policy Implications ◽  
Extensive Literature ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Global Food Security ◽  
Gm Food ◽  
Gm Foods ◽  
Consumer Demands ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Asian Consumers ◽  
Global Food

Purpose Contemporary business is rather global. Food imports and exports are expanding beyond borders to meet increasing domestic and international food and consumer demands. Genetically modified (GM) food emerged as a potential sustainable solution which aims at meeting consumer demands and to mitigate urgent global food security problem. Because of its nature of existence, GM food is a controversial topic in several countries and has varied acceptance rates by consumers. Both government and consumers are antagonistic towards GM foods in most European countries. In contrast, most Asian consumers are neutral and so do not oppose GM foods. The purpose of this viewpoint paper is to examine the factors determining the difference in acceptance of GM foods between cultures. Such information can facilitate policy implications for governments in global agri-food trade and for producers in segregating markets. Design/methodology/approach Extensive literature review is done to base the discussions of this viewpoint paper. Findings This paper presents five factors that describe the difference in acceptance of GM foods between Europeans and Asians: knowledge and trust over the institutions performing research, uncertainty avoidance and health, gender differences, risk perception and material benefits and food for survival. Originality/value There is no systematic study that compares factors determining acceptance of GM foods across cultures.

scholarly journals Are consumers loyal to genetically modified food? Evidence from Australia

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fazlul K. Rabbanee ◽  
Tanzim Afroz ◽  
Mostafa Mahmud Naser
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Genetically Modified ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Genetically Modified Food ◽  
Consumer Loyalty ◽  
Repurchase Intention ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Gm Food ◽  
Parsimonious Model

PurposeGenetically modified (GM) food has received considerable interest from academics and practitioners. However, research on consumer loyalty towards GM food is relatively sparse. Guided by the theory of planned behaviour, this study aims to explore the factors that influence consumer repurchase intention and behavioural loyalty towards GM food.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from 464 Australian consumer panel members surveyed through a nationwide online survey, with data analysed by structural equation modelling using AMOS (v. 22.0).FindingsThe findings reveal that consumer loyalty towards GM food is influenced by the interplay between awareness of benefits and risks, situational and social influences and attitude and repurchase intention. Female consumers are found to not only possess a relatively more favourable attitude and repurchase intention, but also are more loyal towards GM food compared to male consumers. Unlike older consumers, younger consumers' loyalty towards GM food is influenced by their attitude and repurchase intention. The relevant policy implications of the findings are discussed.Practical implicationsAs consumers have contrasting views about GM food, to influence their loyalty, it is important for GM food industries as well as policy makers to better understand how to address consumers' varying concerns about GM food.Originality/valueThis study offers a parsimonious model for explaining the factors that influence consumer loyalty towards GM food.

scholarly journals Negative dominance and dominance-by-dominance epistatic effects reduce grain-yield heterosis in wide crosses in wheat

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (24) ◽  
pp. eaay4897 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philipp H. G. Boeven ◽  
Yusheng Zhao ◽  
Patrick Thorwarth ◽  
Fang Liu ◽  
Hans Peter Maurer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Distance ◽  
Genetic Architecture ◽  
Distance Measure ◽  
Hybrid Wheat ◽  
Wide Crosses ◽  
Epistatic Effects ◽  
Global Food Security ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Negative Dominance ◽  
Global Food

The genetics underlying heterosis, the difference in performance of crosses compared with midparents, is hypothesized to vary with relatedness between parents. We established a unique germplasm comprising three hybrid wheat sets differing in the degree of divergence between parents and devised a genetic distance measure giving weight to heterotic loci. Heterosis increased steadily with heterotic genetic distance for all 1903 hybrids. Midparent heterosis, however, was significantly lower in the hybrids including crosses between elite and exotic lines than in crosses among elite lines. The analysis of the genetic architecture of heterosis revealed this to be caused by a higher portion of negative dominance and dominance-by-dominance epistatic effects. Collectively, these results expand our understanding of heterosis in crops, an important pillar toward global food security.

Can product-information disclosure increase Chinese consumer’s willingness to pay for GM foods? The case of Fad-3 GM lamb

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 415-437 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qihui Chen ◽  
Gaoshuai Liu ◽  
Yumei Liu
Keyword(s):  
Willingness To Pay ◽  
Information Disclosure ◽  
Product Information ◽  
Contingent Valuation Method ◽  
Food Product ◽  
Chinese Consumers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Gm Food ◽  
Valuation Method ◽  
Gm Foods

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine Chinese consumers’ level of perception of genetically modified (GM) foods and the determinants of their willingness to pay (WTP) for Fad-3 GM lamb, a newly developed GM product. Design/methodology/approach Based on a randomized choice experiment involving 576 consumers in Beijing, the authors adopt a double-bounded contingent valuation method to estimate consumers’ WTP for Fad-3 GM lamb, as well as the causal impact of (randomized) product-information disclosure on it. Findings The econometric result indicates that the randomly disclosed product information describing details about Fad-3 GM lamb, the potential risks associated with the consumption of it, and the related governmental regulation policies raised consumers’ WTP by 6.2 yuan per Jin (or US$2/kilogram). Originality/value This paper provides new experimental evidence of the effect of product-information disclosure on consumers’ WTP for a newly developed GM food product.

Balancing food security and AMR

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ziping Wu
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Impact Evaluation ◽  
Animal Production ◽  
Growth Promoter ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Global Food Security ◽  
Farm Production ◽  
Food Animal ◽  
Global Food ◽  
Research And Policy

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to focus on economics literature on antimicrobial and alternative uses in food animal production on its current state, its drivers, impacts and policy, and provides a general picture of the research for this special agricultural input and future directions for the research and policy. Design/methodology/approach Reduction of antimicrobial uses in food animal production is relevant to both preventing antimicrobial resistance and ensuring global food security. This study focuses on reviewing antimicrobial impact on global food security, particularly in farm production by documenting the main drivers, functions and alternatives of antimicrobial animal uses, comparing different approaches used in evaluating its production effects and providing recommendations for future research and policy development. Findings Three main approaches, controlled animal experiments, comparisons between with and without using antimicrobials at the farm level and comparisons before and after antimicrobial ban as growth promoter, have been used in measuring food security effects of antimicrobial uses in food animal production. They are, however, answering different questions with different measuring conditions. The positive production impact of antimicrobial use is often associated to its functions as a growth promoter and in preventing and treating diseases. In this review the author question the technical legitimacy for antimicrobials as a growth promoter and argue that antimicrobials should be treated as a special class of conditional and supportive input in farm production instead of using it as a normal input in its impact evaluation. Research limitations/implications An approach of combining damage control function and disease epidemiological model instead of a simplified production function should be used in its impact evaluation including in evaluating those used as antimicrobial growth promoters. Practical implications In reducing antimicrobial uses in animal production, apart from more active adoption of the alternatives, we call for a better understanding for the decision makings of antimicrobial use in the production process including government-veterinarian-farm links. Originality/value This study examines the main issues in current economic research in antimicrobial food animal production, clarifies ambiguities in antimicrobial production functions and in different approaches used in impact evaluation, provides a roadmap for reduction of antimicrobial uses and a new approach for the policy evaluation.

Science or prejudice

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 90-107
Author(s):  
Jintao Zhan ◽  
Yubei Ma ◽  
Xinye Lv ◽  
Meng Xu ◽  
Mingyang Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Regression Model ◽  
Agricultural Product ◽  
Subjective Perception ◽  
Transgenic Technology ◽  
Chinese Consumers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Subjective Perceptions ◽  
Gm Food ◽  
Gm Foods ◽  
The Impact

Purpose Some researchers argue that consumers’ lack of knowledge is an important factor increasing risk for a new product derived from emerging agricultural technology. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the potential impacts and the differential effects of subjective and objective perceptions on Chinese consumers’ preferences for the application of a novel biotechnology. Design/methodology/approach Taking transgenic technology as an example and employing data from a survey of 1,000 consumers in Jiangsu Province, the authors develop a mixed-process regression model based on Fishbein’s multiple attributes attitude model. Findings The results suggest that there are apparent differences between Chinese consumers’ subjective perceptions and objective perceptions concerning transgenic technology and genetically modified (GM) food, and there exists certain selective perceptions of the emerging biotechnology. Having a subjective perception concerning transgenic technology has a positive effect on consumers’ overall attitudes, whereas subjective and objective perceptions concerning GM foods have a negative effect on consumers’ overall attitudes. Self-identification generated from subjective perception occupies a dominant position in determining consumers’ attitudes. Originality/value Consumers’ attitudes regarding an agricultural product depend on their perception of the attributes of the technology used to produce such a product. This study attempts to distinguish and empirically test urban consumers’ subjective perceptions (self-assessed or perceived) and objective perceptions (obtained from a test) about transgenic technology and GM foods and the impact of these four types of perception on the consumers’ attitudes regarding the application of transgenic technology. In this paper, the authors construct a mixed-process regression model to address the possible endogeneity of the perception variables.

Open challenges for ecological and microbiological safety of food and raw food materials in Azerbaijan

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehriban Yusifova ◽  
Gunash Nasrullayeva ◽  
Elza Omarova ◽  
Mehriban Magerramova ◽  
Aphila Kurbanova
Keyword(s):  
Food Supply ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Food Culture ◽  
Extensive Literature ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
Microbiological Safety ◽  
Production And Distribution ◽  
Import And Export ◽  
Safe Food

Purpose The provision of safe food is a topic of increasing relevance worldwide. Several countries, including Azerbaijan, attempted to develop scientific, applied, social and economic solutions to the food supply and nutrition problems. However, Azerbaijan still faces important challenges, particularly providing appropriate, eco-friendly and microbiologically safe supplies and food. These issues occur in international export and import of raw food materials and food, provision of regional and municipal control in food supply and sales and teaching food culture to the public. This viewpoint paper aims to examine the challenges that impede the provision of safe food for Azerbaijan. Such information can facilitate policy implications for governments in developing solutions to the food supply. Design/methodology/approach Extensive literature review is done to base the discussions of this viewpoint paper. Findings Academic institutions and departments should take a more centralized and effective effort in scientific research concerning safety, hygiene and culture of nutrition. In conclusion, to ensure proper sustainment, it is necessary to provide strict microbiological, sanitary and hygienic control across the network of production and distribution of food and its import and export within regional and local food source provision systems and mechanisms. Originality/value To the authors’ best knowledge, there is no systematic study evaluating the challenges of ecologically and microbiological safety for food in Azerbaijan.

Asymmetric return response to expected risk: policy implications

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 345-356
Author(s):  
Mehmet F. Dicle ◽  
Kendra Reed
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Research Effort ◽  
Circuit Breaker ◽  
Low Risk ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Investor Behavior ◽  
Circuit Breakers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Changes In Risk ◽  
The Difference

Purpose As investors’ fear has an impact on their risk-return tradeoff, this fear leaves markets susceptible to sudden and large fluctuations. The purpose of this study is to suggest regulators to amend their precautionary methods to recognize the difference in investor behavior for high-risk periods versus low-risk periods. Design/methodology/approach The authors empirically show the difference in investor response to changes in expected risk as a function of level of risk. They then show different return patterns for high-risk and low-risk days. Their approach is implemented to evaluate whether investors’ reaction is the same to changes in risk during high-risk versus low-risk periods. Findings The results indicate that the negative return response to incremental increases in risk is significantly higher for periods of high versus low expected risk, with high defined as risk levels above long-run normal. Research limitations/implications Investors’ increased response to changes in risk exposes financial markets to higher likelihood of sudden and larger fluctuations during high-risk periods. Regulator-imposed circuit breakers are designed to protect markets against such market crashes. However, circuit breakers are not designed to account for investor behavior changes. The results show that circuit breakers should be different for high- versus low-risk periods. Practical implications A circuit breaker that is designed to protect investors against large drops should be amended to have a lower threshold during high-risk periods. Originality/value The contribution is, to the authors’ knowledge, the first research effort to evaluate the effects of differences in investor behavior on investor reactions and regulator imposed fail-safes. During the times of extreme market risk, the proposed changes may enable circuit breakers function their intended purposes.

Jurisprudence and demand for halal meat in OIC

2019 ◽  
Vol 121 (7) ◽  
pp. 1614-1626 ◽  
Author(s):  
Imran Majeed ◽  
Hussein Al-Zyoud ◽  
Naved Ahmad
Keyword(s):  
Trade Flows ◽  
Import Demand ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Empirical Literature ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Islamic Jurisprudence ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Lag Variables ◽  
Meat Market

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to estimate the import demand function for halal meat in member countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and to suggest some policy recommendations for OIC members that can enhance intra-OIC halal meat trade. Design/methodology/approach By using an augmented gravity model, this study empirically estimates the major determinants of halal meat import demand in OIC member countries. Moreover, a major determinant is the difference in Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh). Findings The results of this study show that the variation in Islamic jurisprudence is one of the primary determinants of intra-regional trade of halal meat import demand in OIC member countries. Research limitations/implications Although trade flows are set up in several years and lag variables are well capable to examine trade flows, this study only includes the static nature of halal meat trade flows toward selected top 20 OIC member countries. Practical implications This study suggests that developing a common halal meat market and one halal certification body under the OIC can enhance intra-OIC halal meat trade, this may be a challenge given the five diverse interpretations of halal meat within Islamic jurisprudence among OIC member countries. Originality/value This paper identifies the role of Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh) in determining the import demand of halal meat in OIC countries, which has not been addressed in empirical literature. It also provides some policy implications to ameliorate the declining trend of intra-OIC trade flows of halal meat.

scholarly journals Chp8, a Diguanylate Cyclase from Pseudomonas syringae pv. Tomato DC3000, Suppresses the Pathogen-Associated Molecular Pattern Flagellin, Increases Extracellular Polysaccharides, and Promotes Plant Immune Evasion

mBio ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christoph Engl ◽  
Christopher J. Waite ◽  
Joseph F. McKenna ◽  
Mark H. Bennett ◽  
Thorsten Hamann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pseudomonas Syringae ◽  
Plant Pathogen ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Extracellular Polysaccharides ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Global Food Security ◽  
Plant Infection ◽  
Molecular Pattern ◽  
Global Food

ABSTRACTThe bacterial plant pathogenPseudomonas syringaecauses disease in a wide range of plants. The associated decrease in crop yields results in economic losses and threatens global food security. Competition exists between the plant immune system and the pathogen, the basic principles of which can be applied to animal infection pathways.P. syringaeuses a type III secretion system (T3SS) to deliver virulence factors into the plant that promote survival of the bacterium. TheP. syringaeT3SS is a product of the hypersensitive response and pathogenicity (hrp) and hypersensitive response and conserved (hrc) gene cluster, which is strictly controlled by the codependent enhancer-binding proteins HrpR and HrpS. Through a combination of bacterial gene regulation and phenotypic studies, plant infection assays, and plant hormone quantifications, we now report that Chp8 (i) is embedded in the Hrp regulon and expressed in response to plant signals and HrpRS, (ii) is a functional diguanylate cyclase, (iii) decreases the expression of the major pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP) flagellin and increases extracellular polysaccharides (EPS), and (iv) impacts the salicylic acid/jasmonic acid hormonal immune response and disease progression. We propose that Chp8 expression dampens PAMP-triggered immunity during early plant infection.IMPORTANCEThe global demand for food is projected to rise by 50% by 2030 and, as such, represents one of the major challenges of the 21st century, requiring improved crop management. Diseases caused by plant pathogens decrease crop yields, result in significant economic losses, and threaten global food security. Gaining mechanistic insights into the events at the plant-pathogen interface and employing this knowledge to make crops more resilient is one important strategy for improving crop management. Plant-pathogen interactions are characterized by the sophisticated interplay between plant immunity elicited upon pathogen recognition and immune evasion by the pathogen. Here, we identify Chp8 as a contributor to the major effort of the plant pathogenPseudomonas syringaepv. tomato DC3000 to evade immune responses of the plant.

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