A national survey done by the North Carolina State University and the University of Minnesota representatives suggests that most U.S. consumers are ready to accept genetically modified and nanotech products if it is enhanced with nutrition and are safe.
The survey involved 1,117 U.S. consumers where they were asked if they were willing to accept genetically modified and nanotech products with qualifiers that improved safety, enhanced with nutrition and has environmental benefits.
The survey result entitled "Heterogeneous Consumer Preferences for Nanotechnology and Genetic-modification Technology in Food Products," was published at the Journal of Agricultural Economics on Nov. 12.
"In general, people are willing to pay more to avoid GM or nanotech in foods, and people were more averse to GM tech than to nanotech," states Dr. Jennifer Kuzma, co-director of the Genetic Engineering in Society Center at North Carolina State and senior author on the research.
The survey results revealed that 40 percent of the participants are willing to buy genetically modified and nanotech products if these foods have improved safety and nutrition while 23 percent says they are willing to pay for foods whether it is genetically modified and contain nanotech.
19 percent says they will buy genetically modified and nanotech products only if these are safe while 18 percent of the participants would reject these products.
The participants were divided based on the results: the 40 percent were tagged "benefit-oriented" group, 23 percent were "price oriented," 19 percent were "technology averse," and the 18 percent were labeled as the "new technology rejecters."
Kuzma added genetically modified and nanotech products can have a place in the market if manufacturers will focus on enhancing its safety and nutrition. And for the group who rejects these products, companies must label these foods so that consumers will be more aware.
The World Health Organization defines genetically modified products as foods that are obtained from organisms on which their DNA or genetic material had been altered naturally. At present all the genetically modified products are plant based, but GM animals will be most likely to be introduced in the future.
Nanotechnology in food occurs when nanoparticles or nanotechnology techniques are utilized during the processes of cultivation, production, processing, or packaging of food.
How about you, do you think genetically modified and nanotech products have place in the market?
