Consumer Acceptance, Choice and Attitudes towards Genetically Modified

208 Pages·2009·0.93 MB·English

Departament d’Enginyeria Agroalimentària i
Biotecnologia.

Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya

Consumer Acceptance, Choice and
Attitudes towards Genetically
Modified (GM) Food

Thesis Submitted by:

Montserrat Costa Font

Edifici ESAB, Parc Mediterrani de la Tecnologia, Avinguda del Canal Olimpic s/n,
08860-Castelldefels, Barcelona. E-mail: [email protected]

Supervised by:

Professor Dr. Jose María Gil

Catellfedels, February 2009
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Acknowledgements

This thesis is the result of a four year process that began with a year MSc at the London
School of Economics and Political Science followed up with a subsequent PhD research
studentship supervised by Professor Jose Maria Gil at UPC. During these years I have
had the opportunity to get involved in research activities that have been enormously
fruitful both professionally and personally.

First and foremost, I wish to express my gratitude to the Department of Agricultural
Engineering and Biotechnology, Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya and especially the
CREDA (Centre de Investigació en Economia i Desenvolupament Agroalimentari),
where this thesis was carried out, for hosting me and providing me with the means to
develop part of this thesis in the framework of a European project.

I am most grateful to my supervisor, Professor Jose Maria Gil who offered me the
opportunity to perform the research included in this thesis, his advice during these four
yeas has impinged an influence on me that will always remember and acknowledge.

I want to take this opportunity to thank my colleagues, particularly Zein, Anna, Tere,
Fatima and Fayçal, for their support, advice and for an incredibly friendly environment.

This thesis would not have been possible without the conditions offered by the Centre
for Agricultural Strategy at University of Reading where I spent three wonderful
months with Richard, Philip, Joseph and Teresa. A large chunk of this thesis was
written whilst being there, where I honestly felt like one more of the research team
members.

Last but not least, I wish to thank my family. My husband Pere, who has been a patient
companion during the whole course of my work. My parents for their love, personal
and academic example as well as their encouragement throughout this project. My
brother who has never let me down, for pushing me to improve and to be more
ambitious. This doctoral dissertation would not have been possible without his
comments, ideas and constructive criticisms.
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Finally, I would like to state that these fours years devoted to this thesis have allowed
me to develop both an intellectual and personal project that goes far beyond its chapters
and the "neaty greaty" of regression, modelling and statistical techniques. I hope that
this humble research contribution is only the beginning of what I would love it becomes
a long lasting research career.

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Index

Chapter 1: Introduction

1.1 Introduction_______________________________________________________ 3
1.2 Genetically Modified (GM) agro-food production as a case study ____________ 4
1.2.1 Genetically Modified food production and size _____________________________4
1.2.2 An overview of the existing risk regulation of GM food in Europe_____________6
1.3 Consumers and GM food: some starting points___________________________ 9
1.4 Objectives, research questions and hypotheses.__________________________ 12
1.5 Data sources______________________________________________________ 18
1.6 References _______________________________________________________ 21

Chapter 2: Consumer acceptance, valuation of and attitudes towards
genetically modified food: Review and implications for food policy

2.1 Abstract _________________________________________________________ 27
2.2 Introduction______________________________________________________ 28
2.3 Evidence on worldwide consumer attitudes to GM technology – food related
applications._________________________________________________________ 30
2.4 The role of risk and benefit perceptions in the construction of consumer attitudes
___________________________________________________________________ 31
2.5 Individual attributes and values: the construction of perceptions and attitudes
towards GM food. ____________________________________________________ 33
2.6 Individuals knowledge and consumers risk and benefit perceptions _________ 36
2.7 From attitudes to valuation and acceptance: consumer purchasing behaviour. 43
2.8 Conclusions remarks, policy and research implications ___________________ 47
2.9 References _______________________________________________________ 53

Chapter 3: Measuring consumer preferences for GM and organic
food: an empirical analysis for cornflakes and tomato

3.1 Abstract _________________________________________________________ 63
3.2 Introduction______________________________________________________ 64
3.3 Background and Literature Review ___________________________________ 65
3.4 Description of choice experiment methodology__________________________ 68
3.5 Experimental design _______________________________________________ 71
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3.6 Statistical model to be used__________________________________________ 75
3.7. Results__________________________________________________________ 76
3.7.1 Aggregate results for Cornflakes________________________________________77
3.7.2 Aggregate results for Tomato __________________________________________79
3.7.3 Models considering respondents heterogeneity (with SDC)__________________82
3.8 Concluding remarks _______________________________________________ 85
3.9 References _______________________________________________________ 87

Chapter 4: Risk perceptions, risk attitudes and the formation of
consumer acceptance of GM food

4.1 Abstract _________________________________________________________ 91
4.2 Introduction______________________________________________________ 92
4.3 Hypothesis _______________________________________________________ 96
4.4 Data and Methods _________________________________________________ 97
4.4.1 The sample__________________________________________________________97
4.4.2 Measurement _______________________________________________________98
4.4.3 Analytical procedures_________________________________________________99
4.5 Results _________________________________________________________ 100
4.5.1 Descriptive Analysis _________________________________________________100
4.5.2 Measurement Model or scales validation analysis_________________________105
4.5.3 Structural Model____________________________________________________107
4.6 Discussion ______________________________________________________ 109
4.7 References ______________________________________________________ 111

Chapter 5: Meta-Attitudes and the local formation of consumer
judgements towards Genetically Modified Food (GMF)

5.1 Abstract ________________________________________________________ 117
5.2. Introduction ____________________________________________________ 118
5.3 Theoretical framework ____________________________________________ 120
5.3.1 Perceived benefits and attitude towards science and technology_____________120
5.3.2 Attitude and benefit perception of different biotechnological applications ____122
5.4 Heterogeneity GM food attitudes: regulation in Spain ___________________ 123
5.5. Data and Research methodology____________________________________ 127
5.5.1 The sample_________________________________________________________127
5.5.2 Measures __________________________________________________________127
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5.5.3 Analytical procederes________________________________________________128
5.6 Results_________________________________________________________ 131
5.6.1 Descriptive analysis__________________________________________________131
5.6.2. Measurement Model (Confirmatory factor analysis)______________________136
5.6.3 Structural Model____________________________________________________142
5.7 Conclusion______________________________________________________ 148
5.8 References ______________________________________________________ 150

Chapter 6: Structural equation modelling of consumer acceptance of
Genetically Modified (GM) food in the Mediterranean Europe: a cross
country study

6.1 Abstract ________________________________________________________ 157
6.2 Introduction_____________________________________________________ 158
6.3 Theoretical framework for consumers’ process of GM food acceptance._____ 159
6.3.1 Attitude towards science and technology.________________________________161
6.3.2 Trust on scientific experts and institutions. ______________________________162
6.3.3 Consumer perceptions of risk and benefit about GM food technology. _______163
6.3.4 Consumer attitudes towards GM food.__________________________________164
6.3.5 Consumer final intentions towards GM food. ____________________________164
6.4 Research methodology_____________________________________________ 165
6.4.1 The Sample ________________________________________________________165
6.4.2 Measures.__________________________________________________________166
6.4.3 Analytical procedures. _______________________________________________168
6.5 Results _________________________________________________________ 171
6.5.1 Descriptive analysis. _________________________________________________171
6.5.2 Measurement model (Confirmatory factor analysis).______________________173
6.5.3 Structural model. ___________________________________________________176
6.6 Discussion.______________________________________________________ 180
6.7 References ______________________________________________________ 183

Chapter 7: Conclusions

7.1 Conclusions _____________________________________________________ 191
7.2 References ______________________________________________________ 198

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TABLES

Table 1.1 Worldwide GM crop area harvested from 1996 to 2007 by countries (Million
hectares)_____________________________________________________________ 5
Table 1.2 Relation among chapters and hypothesis of analysis. _________________ 18
Table1.3 Descriptive information for the samples. ___________________________ 20
Table 2.1. A comparison of price premia for some non-GM foods. ______________ 45
Table 3.1 Socio-Demographic characteristics. ______________________________ 72
Table 3.2 Attributes and levels___________________________________________ 73
Table 3.3 Final Fractional Factorial design________________________________ 74
Table 3.4 Discrete Choice conditional multinomial logit results for cornflakes in Spain
(Conditional choice). __________________________________________________ 77
Table 3.5 Estimated WTP to change from conventional to other attribute level for a
500gr box of cornflakes (€/500g of cornflakes) (Conditional choice). ____________ 78
Table 3.6 Discrete Choice conditional multinomial logit results for cornflakes in Spain
(considering the no choice option). _______________________________________ 79
Table 3.7 Estimated WTP to change from conventional to other attribute level for a
500gr box of cornflakes (€/500g of cornflakes) (considering the no choice option). _ 79
Table 3.8 Discrete Choice conditional multinomial logit results for tomato in Spain.
(Conditional model) ___________________________________________________ 80
Table 3.9 Estimated WTP to change from conventional or imported tomato to other
attribute level for a kg of tomatoes (€/kg of tomato). (Conditional model)_________ 81
Table 3.10 Discrete Choice conditional multinomial logit results for tomato in Spain.
(considering the no choice option). _______________________________________ 81
Table 3.11 Estimated WTP to change from conventional or imported tomato to other
attribute level for a kg of tomatoes (€/kg of tomato). (considering the no choice option).
___________________________________________________________________ 82
Table 3.12 Estimated WTP for a 500gr box of cornflakes considering individual specific
characteristics (€/500g of cornflakes)._____________________________________ 84
Table 3.13 Estimated WTP for a kg of tomatoes considering individual specific
characteristics (€/kg of tomatoes) ________________________________________ 84
Table 4.1 List of indicators used for each construct.__________________________ 98
Table 4.2 Spanish public attitudes towards GM products (%) _________________ 103
Table 4.3 Spanish public attitudes towards organic products (%) ______________ 104
Table 4.4 Correlation matrix among indicators_____________________________ 105
Table 4.5 Reliability of the standardized Confirmatory Factor Analysis__________ 106
Table 4.6 Goodness-of-fit for the structural regression model _________________ 107
Table 5.1 Spanish area devoted to GM maize production by regions.____________ 126
Table 5.2 List of indicators used for each construct._________________________ 128
Table 5.3 Cross valuation among different new technologies.__________________ 133
Table 5.4 Public opinion on the genetic engineering applications (Note: 0 “totally
disagree” and 10 “totally agree”)_______________________________________ 135
Table 5.5 Public opinion on GM food (Note: 0 “totally disagree” and 10 “totally
agree”)____________________________________________________________ 135
Table 5.6 Correlation matrix among indicators (Full population) ______________ 136
Table 5.7 Reliability of the standardized Confirmatory Factor Analysis__________ 137
(Full population).____________________________________________________ 137
Table 5.8 Reliability of the standardized Confirmatory Factor Analysis (Gender
segmentation)_______________________________________________________ 138
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Table 5.9 Reliability of the standardized Multi-Group Confirmatory Factor Analysis
(age segmentation). __________________________________________________ 139
Table 5.10 Reliability of the standardized Confirmatory Factor Analysis (consumer
intentions towards GMF). _____________________________________________ 140
Table 5.11 Reliability of the standardized Confirmatory Factor Analysis (GM-free and
producer regions). ___________________________________________________ 141
Table 5.12 Goodness-of-fit for the structural regression models________________ 143
Table 6.1 List of indicators used for each construct._________________________ 167
Table 6.2 Correlation matrix among indicators (Group1: Spain)_______________ 173
Table 6.3 Correlation matrix among indicators (Group2: Italy)________________ 174
Table 6.4 Correlation matrix among indicators (Group 3: Greece) _____________ 174
Table 6.5 Reliability of the standardized Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). ___ 175
Table 6.6 Goodness-of-fit for the structural regression model _________________ 177

FIGURES

Figure 2.1 An explanatory process of GM food acceptance ____________________ 50
Figure 4.1 Theoretical process for shaping GM food purchase intentions. ________ 97
Figure 4.2 Importance of a range of factors in food purchasing decisions in Spain_ 101
Figure 4.3 Sources trusted by Spanish consumers to provide reliable information about
genetic engineering in food production.___________________________________ 103
Figure 4.4 Structural model results. _____________________________________ 108
Figure 5.1 Consumer conceptual process of acceptance______________________ 122
Figure 5.2 Public benefit perception of Science and Technology. ______________ 132
Figure5. 3 Path diagram results Spanish full sample________________________ 144
Figure 5.4 Path diagram results Spanish age segmented sample (18-35; 36-56; +56)
__________________________________________________________________ 144
Figure 5.5 Path diagram results Spanish consumer intentions towards GMF segmented
sample (willing to consume; not willing to consume) ________________________ 146
Figure 5.6 Path diagram results Spanish GM producer region segmented sample (GM
producer; GM free) __________________________________________________ 147
Figure5. 7 Path diagram results Spanish segmented sample by gender (male; female)
__________________________________________________________________ 147
Figure 6.1 Consumer conceptual process of acceptance _____________________ 161
Figure 6.2 Spanish, Italian and Greek GM food attitudes. ____________________ 171
Figure 6.3 Path diagram results for Spain_________________________________ 177
Figure6 4 Path diagram results for Italy__________________________________ 178
Figure 6.5 Path diagram results for Greece _______________________________ 178

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