Country of Origin Labeling of Fresh Produce: A Consumer Preference Analysis

This paper investigates the relationships between country of origin labeling (COOL) issues and consumers concern about safety and health towards using of foreign produce. Results show that those who were married, self employed, had higher incomes, or possessed more education were more likely to support COOL. A consumer survey showed that about 84% of respondents overall, and more specifically, about 84% of female and 83% of male respondents would like markets to provide information about country of origin of fresh produce. The result also shows that about 73% of respondents regularly read food advertisements in newspapers and grocery brochures.Demand and Price Analysis, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, International Relations/Trade,

Magnetic phase diagram of three-dimensional diluted Ising antiferromagnet Ni0.8_{0.8}Mg0.2_{0.2}(OH)2_{2}

$H$-$T$ diagram of 3D diluted Ising antiferromagnet Ni$_{c}$Mg$_{1-c}$(OH)$_{2}$ with $c$ = 0.8 has been determined from measurements of SQUID DC magnetization and AC magnetic susceptibility. At $H$ = 0, this compound undergoes two magnetic phase transitions: an antiferromagnetic (AF) transition at the N\'{e}el temperature $T_{N}$ (= 20.7 K) and a reentrant spin glass (RSG) transition at $T_{RSG}$ ($\approx$ 6 K). The $H$-$T$ diagram consists of the RSG, spin glass (SG), and AF phases. These phases meet a multicritical point $P_{m}$ ($H_{m}$ = 42 kOe, $T_{m}$ = 5.6 K). The irreversibility of susceptibility defined by $\delta$ (= $\chi_{FC} - \chi_{ZFC}$) shows a negative local minimum for 10 $\leq H \leq$ 35 kOe, suggesting the existence of possible glassy phase in the AF phase. A broad peak in $\delta$ and $\chi^{\prime \prime}$ at $H \geq$ 20 kOe for $T_{N}(c=0.8,H) \leq T \leq T_{N}(c=1,H=0)$ (= 26.4 K) suggests the existence of the Griffiths phase.Comment: 11 pages, 14 figures; J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. 73 (2004) No. 1 issue, in pres

Demographic Characteristics of Consumers who Read Grocery Brochures Regularly and Those who are willing to Switch Supermarkets to Buy Advertised Specials: An Analysis.

This study analyzed the influence of demographic and behavioral characteristics on the likelihood of a consumer to read food advertisements in grocery brochures and the likelihood of a consumer to shop at more than one store to purchase advertised specials. Overall, 73% and 46% of respondents read food advertisements and shop multiple stores to purchase advertised specials, respectively. Consumer characteristics which are shown to influence the reading of food advertisements and shopping at more than one food store to buy advertised specials were the possession of education beyond the 2/4 year college degree and the tendency to read ingredient labels.Consumer/Household Economics, Marketing,

PUBLIC APPROVAL OF PLANT AND ANIMAL BIOTECHNOLOGY IN KOREA: AN ORDERED PROBIT ANALYSIS

This study analyzes predictors of Korean public acceptance of the use of biotechnology to create genetically modified food products. Results indicate that the consumers with above average knowledge of specific outcomes of genetic modification were more likely than those with inaccurate or no knowledge to approve use of plant or animal genetic modification for the creation of new food products. Young South Koreans consumers (ages 20 to 29 years old) were more likely than old consumers (ages 50 to 59) to approve use of biotechnology to create both plant and animal based foods. Further, those Koreans in favor of GM labeling were less likely to approve the use of biotechnology for the creation of food products. The results also suggest that public trust and confidence on various institutions associated with biotechnology is critical for the future of the technology. There was some evidence of differential biotechnology approval among consumers of different residential areas, income levels and political affiliation. Thus, those in cities, those with incomes above 40 million Won, and of liberal political affiliation were found to be more approving of animal biotechnology.Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

Consumer Acceptance of Genetically Modified Foods in South Korea: Factor and Cluster Analysis

This study extends biotechnology discourse to cover South Korea in the Asian sub-continent showing a marked difference in perceptions between traditional and GM foods. Factor analysis suggests South Koreans may treat foods that are locally produced and those with no artificial flavors or colorings preferentially to GM foods. Additionally, South Koreans have concerns about perceived risks related to biotechnology, and, given a choice, they may pay more to avoid GM foods. Cluster analysis results yielded four consumer segments: (a) ardent supporters of the attribute of “naturalness†in foods, (b) those apprehensive about biotechnology, (c) the food adventurous, and (d) information seekers about biotechnology.consumer perceptions, factor and cluster analysis, food attributes, genetic modification, Consumer/Household Economics, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,

CONSUMER ACCEPTANCE OF GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOODS IN KOREA: FACTOR AND CLUSTER ANALYSIS

The study applies multivariate statistical and econometric tools to estimate the importance of the various factors driving Korean consumer acceptance of GM food products. The evidence thus far on biotechnology is decidedly mixed: public perceptions of food biotechnology are characterized by ongoing tension between opposing forces. The South Korean perceptions about food in general and ranges from excitement about the promise of environmental and economic benefits from GM products to fear and distrust of the technology for unknown risks. This highlights the importance of credibility of private and public institutions responsible for certifying the safety of GM foods and implementing necessary regulatory controls on GM processes and products. In between, many people are undecided, trying to learn more about the issues and reach a definitive position. Encouraging though is that some people are eager to try new foods. Koreans strongly favors food naturalness, familiarity, and access just as the west countries. Results suggest that the South Korean Consumer priorities with respect to various biotechnology and general food issues are related to their socioeconomic and value attributes. This implies that, at least in the near term, there will be considerable divergence within the society in terms of acceptance of food biotechnology. The finding that large segments of the Korean society are either not fully informed or interested in learning more about biotechnology calls for a public education program. A program that may play a constructive role in not only informing consumers but help them in arriving at a socially optimal collective decisions on the wisdom and desirability of food biotechnology.Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

Pedological perspective of gully erosion sites within Kendu escarpment-Sondu Miriu Region, West Kenya

Gully erosion is a common feature in western Kenya, rendering large expanses of otherwise arable land uncultivable and uninhabitable. Gully erosion in the area was classified into two types: the Awach-type and the Sondu-type. The current study aimed at providing insight into physical and chemical properties of soil that promote soil erosion and determine the gully formation type. Field studies were conducted at 4 sites (3 eroded and 1 non- eroded). Physical (particle size distribution, structure stability, infiltration rate, dispersibility, and soil hardness), and chemical (pH, exchangeable cations, total-C, and total-N) properties of soil samples collected from the sites were analyzed in the laboratory. The results showed alkaline pH; high exchangeable sodium (Na) percentage (ESP); fragile soil structure; high dispersibility; and low infiltration rate are major factors contributing to the formation of Awach-type of gully. In contrast, impermeable top layer of hard crust and coarse-textured soil layers beneath it in addition to high ESP facilitated the formation of Sondu-type of gully. Soils of the eroded sites and the non-eroded sites differed mainly in the ESP, which influenced the soil structure stability, water infiltration rate, and soil dispersibility. Susceptibility of soil layers to erosion depended on the magnitude of ESP and sand content.Keywords: Exchangeable sodium percentage, gully erosion, infiltration rate, Kenya, soil dispersion, soil structure

Facilitating War-Affected Young Mothers’ Reintegration: Lessons from a Participatory Action Research Study in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Uganda.

Young women and girls formerly associated with armed forces and armed groups face multiple challenges. Many become pregnant or have children while they are associated and face stigma and marginalization upon reintegration into civilian communities. This article describes a multi-year participatory action research study that took place in twenty communities in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and northern Uganda from 2006 – 2009 and included more than 650 young mother participants. We find that this community-based approach to reintegration improved the wellbeing of young mother participants and their children. We discuss the challenges and limitations of conducting participatory action research with war-affected young people and make recommendations for future reintegration programming

Carpet characteristics of eichhornia crassipes [mart.] solms (water hyacinth) in the Winam gulf (lake victoria, Kenya)

The occurrence and spread of the water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes [Mart.] Solms), in the Winam gulf has created numerous attributes to the human population that live around the lake, thereby making its control a priority. Navigation within the lake is a major economic activity that has been greatly affected. Before this study, little was known about the characteristics of these weed carpets, and specifically the weight that a healthy inter-connected or entangled carpet can support before it was able to sink or even get submerged. Can a light herbivore or human stranded in the lake walk on a healthy carpet to safety?. In order to better understand these unknown, a study was initiated at five locations (i.e; Dunga beach, Kisumu pier, Kusa, Kobala and Kendu bay) within the lake that appeared to contain healthy dense carpets. Carpet connectivity, mat buoyancy, distribution of mass, biomass density, rhizome length and population density were calculated. Carpet connectivity was determined as the difference in pressure when weights were added on a mesh wire measuring 0.434m2 until the carpet submerged and the pressure on the same carpet that was required to submerge it after a complete disconnection. Standing population density was determined by counting the number of plants found within quadrants measuring 1 m2; while biomass density was determined when oven dried plant materials collected from quadrants measuring 1 m2 was weighed. Plant mass and rhizome length measurements were correlated, while population density was correlated to biomass density. These observations show that water hyacinth distribution in the Winam gulf is seasonal and adopts residence in secluded bays, carpets measuring 0,434m2 in size that have a connectivity of 288.4 Pa (pascals) are able to support a weight of only 12.6 kg, with any additional weight causing them to submerge. Distribution of mass was normal except in locations that are subjected to external factors