Hostname: page-component-77c89778f8-5wvtr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-17T12:11:34.589Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Analysis of Consumer Preferences for Biotech Labeling Formats

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 April 2015

R. Wes Harrison
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA
Everald Mclennon
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA

Abstract

Conjoint analysis is used to measure the preferences of United States consumers for labeling of biotech foods. The study found that consumers in the sample support mandatory labeling of biotech foods. This suggests that U.S. consumers would support revisions to the present voluntary labeling policy of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Results also showed that the preferred labeling format is a text disclosure that describes the benefits of biotechnology in combination with a biotech logo.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Southern Agricultural Economics Association 2004

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bretton-Clark. Conjoint Designer. New York: Bretton-Clark Co., 1988.Google Scholar
Caswell, J.A.An Evaluation of Risk Analysis as Applied to Agricultural Biotechnology (with a Case Study of GMO Labeling).” Paper presented at the conference of Transitions in Ag-biotech: Economics of Strategy and Policy, Washington, DC, June 17-19, 1999.Google Scholar
Caswell, J.A.How Labeling of Safety and Process Attributes Affects Markets for Food.Agricultural and Resource Economics Review 28(October 1998):151–58.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Caswell, J.A., and Mojduszka, E.M.. “Using Informational Labeling to Influence the Market for Quality in Food Products.American Journal of Agricultural Economics 78(December 1996):124853.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Caswell, J.A., and Padberg, D.I.. “Towards a More Comprehensive Theory of Food Labels.American Journal of Agricultural Economics 74(February 1992):461–68.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dillman, D.Mail and Telephone Surveys: The Total Design Method. New York: John Wiley and Sons, 1978.Google Scholar
Douthitt, R.Biotechnology and Consumer Choice in the Market Place: Should There Be Mandatory Labeling? A Case Study of Bovine Somatotropin and Wisconsin Dairy Products.” Paper presented at the Second International Conference on Research in the Consumer Interest, Snowbird, UT, August 9-11, 1990.Google Scholar
Halbrendt, C.K., Wirth, F.F., and Vaughn, G.F.. “Conjoint Analysis of the Mid-Atlantic Food-Fish Market for Farm-raised Hybrid Striped Bass.Southern Journal of Agricultural Economics 23(July 1991):155–63.Google Scholar
Hallman, WK.Public Perceptions of Agri-biotechnology.Genet-Eng-News 15(March 1995):45.Google Scholar
Harrison, R.W., Özayan, A., and Meyers, S.P.. “A Conjoint Analysis of New Food Products Processed from Underutilized Small Crawfish.Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics 30(July 1998):257–65.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Harrison, R.W., Stringer, T., and Prinyawiwatkul, W.. “An Analysis of Consumer Preferences for Value-Added Seafood Products Derived from Crawfish.Agricultural and Resource Economics Review 31 (April 2002):157–70.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hine, S., and Loureiro, M.L.. “Understanding consumers' Perceptions toward Biotechnology and Labeling.” Paper presented at the American Agricultural Economics Association Annual Meeting, Long Beach, CA, July 28-31, 2002.Google Scholar
Hoban, T.J., and Kendall, P.A.. “Consumer Attitudes About the Use of Biotechnology in Agriculture and Food Production.” Working Paper, Department of Sociology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, 1992.Google Scholar
Holland, D., and Wessells, C.R.. “Predicting Consumer Preferences for Fresh Salmon: The Influence of Safety Inspection and Production Method Attributes.Agricultural and Resource Economics Review 27(April 1998):114.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Huang, C.L., and Fu, J.. “Conjoint Analysis of Consumer Preferences and Evaluations of a Processed Meat.Journal of International Food and Agribusiness Marketing 7(April 1995):6275.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
International Food Information Council. “U.S. Consumer Attitudes Toward Food Biotechnology.” Wirthlin Group Quorum Surveys, 2001, 2000, 1999, and 1997.Google Scholar
Isaac, G.E., and Phillips, P.W.B.. “Market Access and Market Acceptance for Genetically Modified Products.” Paper presented at the Transitions in Agbiotech: Economics of Strategy and Policy Conference, Washington, DC, June 4-6, 2000.Google Scholar
Kelley, J.Public Perceptions of Genetic Engineering: Australia, 1994.” Working paper, Department of Industry, Science, and Technology, Commonwealth of Australia, 1995.Google Scholar
Kim, S.Y., Nayga, R.M., and Capps, O.. “The Effect of Food Label Use on Nutrient Intakes: An Endogenous Switching Regression Analysis.” Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economic 25(April 20001:215–31.Google Scholar
Long, J.S.Regression Models for Categorical and Limited Dependent Variables. Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications, 1997.Google Scholar
Lusk, J.L., and Fox, J.A.. “Consumer Demand for Mandatory Labeling of Beef from Cattle Administered Growth Hormones or Fed Genetically Modified Corn.Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics 34(July 1998):2738.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Maki, D.A.Food Futurists Predict Trends.Food R&D (February 1995):39.Google Scholar
Mackenzie, J.A Comparison of Contingent Preference Models.American Journal of Agricultural Economics 75(March 1993):593603.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McKelvey, M.D., and Zavoina, W.. “A Statistical Model for the Analysis of Ordinal Level Dependent Variables.Journal of Mathematics and Sociology 4(1975):103–19.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mojduszka, E.M., and Caswell, J.A.. “A Test of Nutritional Quality Signaling in Food Markets Prior to Implementing of Mandatory Labeling.American Journal of Agricultural Economics 82(March 2000):298309.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Novartis. “Most Americans Want Foods that are Genetically Altered to be Clearly Labeled.” Paper presented at the First International Conference on Regulation of Crop Protection and Its Implication for the Food Supply, Tufts University, Medford, February 24-26, 1997.Google Scholar
Prentice, B.E., and Benell, D.. “Determinants of Empty Returns by U.S. Refrigerated Trucks: Conjoint Analysis Approach.Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economics 40(April 1992):109–27.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Roe, B., Boyle, K.J., and M.E Teisl. “Using Conjoint Analysis to Derive Estimates of Compensating Variation.Journal of Environmental Management 31(October 1996):145–59.Google Scholar
Stevens, T.H., Barrett, C., and CE. Willis. “Conjoint Analysis of Groundwater Protection Programs.Agricultural and Resource Economics Review 26(October 1997):229–36.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sy, H.A., Faminow, M.D., Johnson, G.V., and Crow, G.. “Estimating the Values of Cattle Characteristics Using an Ordered Probit Model.American Journal of Agricultural Economics 79(March 1997):463–76.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Teisl, M.E, Bockstael, N.E., and Levy, A.. “Measuring the Welfare Effects of Nutritional Information.American Journal of Agricultural Economics 83(February 2001):133–49.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Environmental Resource Service. “Economic Issues in Agricultural Biotechnology.” Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Pub. No. AIB 762, 1991.Google Scholar
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Environmental Resource Service. “Genetically Engineered Crops for Pest Management.” Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Pub. No. AIB 786, 2000.Google Scholar
Yoo, D., and Ohta, H.. “Optimal Pricing and Product-Planning for New Multiattribute Products Based on Conjoint Analysis.International Journal of Production Economics 38(March 1995):245–53.CrossRefGoogle Scholar