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Using
Focus Groups to Assess Consumer Reactions to Genetically Modified Foods
Enefiok
P. Ekanem, Safdar Muhammad, Fisseha Tegegne, Surrendra P. Singh, and
Yvonne G. Myles
Cooperative
Agricultural Research Program
Seminar Series
Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN
September 4, 2002
Genetic
engineering has made significant contributions to the general area of
agricultural biotechnology.
The introduction of genetically modified inputs in production
agriculture, however, has generated enormous debate on the future of the
food system.
With availability of genetically modified foods, the debate has
expanded to include issues related to food safety, environmental
preservation, agricultural trade, ethical/moral concerns, economic, and
socio-political realities, among others.
In
FY2001, the USDA, under its Initiative For Future Agriculture and Food
Systems (IFAFS), awarded Tennessee State University a special bridge
grant to study consumer and producer reaction to genetically modified
crops in agriculture.
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, University of Arkansas,
Fayetteville, and North Carolina A&T State University are
collaborating with TSU on the project.
The overall goal of the grant is to examine attitudes of U.S.
consumers and producers towards genetically modified organisms in the
food system.
Specific objectives are to: (1) measure acceptability of GMOs in
the production system for consumers and producers, (2) identify factors
that account for differences in perceptions and attitudes of consumers
and producers, (3) examine the role of seed, chemical, and other
agricultural biotechnology companies in the debate, and (4) examine
policy implications of acceptability/non-acceptability for U.S.
agriculture.
This seminar discusses the formation and implementation of focus
groups, the primary methodology for collecting data for the study on
which this presentation is based.
Using
focus group meetings in selected counties in the states participating in
the study, “consumer” and “producer” groups will be used in
assessing reactions to agricultural biotechnology, and genetically
modified crops and foods in agriculture.
Focus groups are a good way to generate discussions that provide
a better understanding of the topic under discussion.
Through focus groups, researchers are able to gather valuable
insights about agricultural biotechnology and genetically modified foods
from participants.
Preliminary results from focus group meetings in Arkansas, North
Carolina, and Tennessee will provide the basis for constructing a
questionnaire to be used in collecting information from a larger survey.
Qualitative methods will be applied to data collected from the
focus groups used in the study.
Utilizing education through extension outreach, findings of the
study will be disseminated to communities, individuals, and stakeholders
interested in the issue of biotechnology in agriculture.
The collaborative network developed will also be strengthened and
used in revising the proposal to be re-submitted for funding
consideration.
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