Analysis of Factors Affecting Consumption of Transgenic Products and Food integrity Comprehensiveness Among Shiraz University Students

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 M.Sc. Student, Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, School of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, College of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran

Abstract

Rising demand for food production is a serious threat to global food security and future generations face food shortages and poverty. Today, common ways to increase food production are in responding to food security threats, including population growth, limited production resources, climate change, and political instability, does not meet the world's needs. Scientific developments and biotechnological applications such as transgenic products are of importance. Transgenic products, are a new scientific development that is of particular importance because of their significant impact on key areas such as food production. If transgenic products are a solution to the world's food challenges, it is important for officials to know and understand the core of society's responses to scientific innovations and their products.Therefore, this study was conducted to analyze the factors affecting the consumption of transgenic products and food integrity.This research has been conducted using survey technique. The measurement tool in this study was the researcher-made questionnaire with closed-ended questions. The validity of questionnaire was confirmed using the opinions of faculty members in Shiraz University and the reliability of the questionnaire was calculated using Cronbach's alpha tests for variables measured using the Likert spectrum among students outside the study community. The statistical population of the present study includes 15575 students of Shiraz University. The sample size was estimated at 385 according to Morgan's table. The study samples were selected by stratified random sampling method with appropriate proportions for participation in the study. Data were analyzed using SPSS and AMOS. Statistical tests showed that the alpha coefficients of the scales for measuring variables in the questionnaire were in acceptable position. Based on the findings, some variables include trust, moral norms, environmental concerns and attitudes towards genetics and transgenic products showed high correlations with the consumption of transgenic products. Structural equation modeling showed that the food integrity variables, as a mediating variable, showed a good prediction of transgenic products consumption. The food integrity variable coefficient has affected (0.62) the consumption of transgenic products. Then, among the variables explaining the consumption of transgenic products, the variables of environmental and environmental concerns (0.43) and attitude towards transgenic products with path coefficient (0.28) and health concern (0.22), respectively had the greatest effects. Cultural factors (0.12) attitudes toward genetic science (0.11), and the variable of knowledge about transgenes with a path coefficient (0.04) showed the least impact on the consumption of transgenic crops. In addition to the information provided, some important relationships in the model and the indirect effects of variables in relation to the consumption of transgenic products are mentioned. The findings of this study indicate the importance of sensitivity to determinants of food integrity, as well as factors including environmental concerns, health and ethical norms as important factors predicting the consumption of transgenic products. This results in the fact that the consumption of transgenic substances is not only affected by the specific conditions of production of these products, but also by several factors in the various processes of processing and distribution of products and consumer conditions affecting consumption.

Keywords

References

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Iranian Journal of Agricultural Economics and Development Research
Volume 52, Issue 2
May 2021
Pages 405-421

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