ベトナムにおけるゲノム編集応用食品に対する消費者受容

概要

Genome editing (GE) represented by CRISPR/Cas9 technology is currently known as the simplest, fastest, most flexible, and accurate method. Using transgene-free tools, the final GE products are indistinguishable from those produced via classical plant breeding methods. These advantages, GE foods are expected widely public acceptance. This study aims to analyze consumer acceptance toward GE foods in comparison to GM foods through measuring consumer implicit and explicit attitudes toward and estimating willingness to pay (WTP) for quality improved GE foods and GM foods under different information treatment.

This study applied a systematic literature review method to review trends in application CRISPR/Cas9 and studies in consumers fields and regulatory to analyze the main opportunities and challenges for the application GE technologies in foods. The empirical survey is conducted in Hanoi, Vietnam with 407 participants during February 2021 to collect consumer attitudes and valuation toward GE foods in comparison to GM foods. We use 8 semantic differential 7-point scales to measure explicit attitudes, while the implicit association test (IAT) has been employed to capture consumers’ implicit attitudes toward GE and GM foods. The determinants and estimated WTP a price premium for GE rice compared to GM and conventional rice are defined by using the Double-bounded Contingent Valuation Method. To understand the effect of information, we assigned consumers into short or long information groups.

We found the trends in the application of CRISPR/Cas9 to major is differentiated from GM technologies in terms of consumer-targeted traits. GE crops have not been only targeted in input traits, but also strengthened production ability in harsh environmental conditions, improving product quality and enhancement nutrition. Consumer-targeted traits coupled with transgene-free crops expected to create a more balanced risk-benefit perception and given momentum to GE foods production. These findings would reflect the expectations of GE products widely public accepted through benefit traits targeted to consumers’ preference.

The results of explicit measures show that consumers hold positive attitudes toward both GE foods significantly higher than GM foods. However, in the implicit evaluation showed an insignificant difference between attitudes toward GE and GM foods. Besides the correlation between GE and GM foods has been found, especially under the context of short information, and providing long information help to decrease this correlation.

This study was conducted to evaluate consumer acceptance and valuation of quality-improved consumer-targeted GE products. Hypothetical traits here are rice variety with fragrance and softness is better improved through both GE and GM technologies compare to the traditional variety of rice. Findings exposed that consumers valued highly quality-improved products through GE technologies that directly target consumer preferences significantly than GM rice of equivalent quality, and consumers willing to pay a premium for GE products compare to conventional foods have lower quality. In addition, attitudes toward GE/GM foods and the preference for rice fragrance are both important determinants in estimating WTP for GE and GM rice models. Further, the age of respondents and access to information have a significant influence on WTP for GE rice.

In conclusion, this study provides a more comprehensive inside into consumers’ acceptance of GE foods through exploring the implicit and explicit attitudes and valuation of quality – improved GE food products. GE products are attractive to consumers not only by transgenes free tools but also by the diversification in producing traits that directly target consumers’ in achieving public support to integrate GE products into society. The important role of providing consumers is revealed, we suggest to GE developers and marketers that increasing public knowledge discriminate GE and GM technologies, and conduct risks and benefits communication strategies being a critical measure to increase public acceptance. Our results suggest that the potential for social acceptance is optimistic and significantly more than that of GM products if GE developers skillfully exploit the advantages of GE products.