TRENDS IN CONSUMER ACCEPTANCE AND AWARENESS OF BIOTECHNOLOGY

The promise of agricultural biotechnology has become reality. Foods produced through biotechnology will become increasingly common in the food production and distribution system. Consumer reaction to these foods will be an important factor in determining the ultimate success of the biotechnology enterprise. This paper reviews trends in U.S. consumers' awareness and acceptance of biotechnology. Results of several national surveys show that biotechnology has not been an issue for the vast majority of consumers. Most have a positive attitude about biotechnology. This paper also presents some implications for future research and educational programs.Consumer/Household Economics, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

Public perceptions of the benefits and risks of biotechnology

Survey research can contribute a valid mechanism for public participation. Regulations must still be based on the best available science. Public policy will always include economic and political considerations. If done right, surveys can reflect the views of a diverse cross section of citizens

A View from the Hill

The Hill is the mound of experience, observations, and reflection resulting from seventy-five years of living, fifty-two years at the law, and thirty-four years as a member of the Common Pleas Court of Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania. Interspersed in these years were almost eight years of active army duty, including combat service in Europe in World Wars I and II

Sociology and Biotechnology: Challenges and Opportunities

Sociologists have traditionally been concerned with technological change. We now find renewed research interest in the social impacts and risks of biotechnology. Many public and key opinion leaders recognize that closer attention must be paid to tradeoffs, uncertainties, and negative consequences related to biotechnology. Sociologists have a number of important roles to play in ensuring that the benefits of biotechnology outweigh the potential risks. This paper examines several important issues about agricultural biotechnology that have not yet received adequate attention from sociologists. The nature of biotechnology as an innovation and as a risky technology is examined. Particular attention is aid to public perceptions of biotechnology. Research opportunities and challenges in the analysis of the biotechnology research and development system are presented. Implications of the complex nature of biotechnology for social impact assessment are described. Research opportunities in the area of risk management and perception are discussed

Concern About Eating Genetically Engineered Food

Concern about eating genetically engineered food is explored for a sample of residents from Florida and North Carolina. Previous research on consumers\u27 food safety concerns and perceived risk associated with food production suggests that concern about genetically engineered food is influenced by three factors. Concern is influenced by how well informed consumers are about food technology, their capacity to understand that information, and the compatibility of genetic engineering with consumers\u27 moral beliefs. Utilizing logistic regression, women and persons who viewed genetic engineering to be morally wrong were found to have greater concern about eating genetically engineered foods. Awareness and educational attainment also decreased concern about among North Carolina residents. For the Florida sample, awareness had no effect on concern, and education decreased concern for only one of two types of food. Although addressing concerns based on moral beliefs may be problematic, efforts to better inform consumers, especially women, might reduce their concern

Passing the Cluck, Dodging Pullets: Corporate Power, Environmental Responsibility, and the Contract Poultry Grower

Broiler production is concentrated in a few southem states where farmers are highly dependent on contract arrangements for income and livelihood. Poultry is the first animal industry to industrialize and its model of contract farming has been emulated by other animal industries. Environmental standards are becoming increasingly stringent and many farmers are faced with crossroad decisions about investments in dead bird and manure disposal facilities. Asymmetrical power relationships shift waste management responsibilities to growers in a number of ways. This paper details maneuvers poultry integrators use to avoid environmental risk and transfer it to their contract growers. Corporations pass the cluck when they shift responsibility for achieving regulatory compliance to the farmer who then must seek technical and financial assistance from public agencies. Poultry integrators dodge pullets when they retain ownership of live animals, but dead birds become the farmer\u27s property and disposal problem. Based on fieldwork conducted in Alabama and North Carolina, we develop a perspective for anticipating and understanding the environmental compliance dilemmas facing growers

Descendants of Ndori Clan: Lio Ethnic Ende Regency

This article was focused on the Ndori clan through Ndale legendary figures, Sera, Longga Naja, and Mangu Nanga, Bari Kandu, Honggo Miri, Demu Laka, Peba Ranggo, and Trio Nusa (Nusa Dhula, Nusa Bhabhu, and Nusa Polo Nggele). The research was intended to discuss include how the descendants of Ndori-ethnic clan Lio-Ende regency pay attention to the issue. The research purpose can be determined i.e., (a) to discover and describe the descendants of the Ndori clan of Lio ethnic, Ende regency. (b) to strengthen the bonds of brotherhood and friendship between individuals within groups within the Ndori clan of Lio ethnic. results showed that the Ndori clan originated from Java. The other clans from both Java and non-Javanese have joined in and occupied the Ndori land. There is also conflict in the form of hegemony and domination, both externally and internally. This conflict was triggered by the desire of legendary figures to gain wealth, eager to be a leader, and want to control part or all of Ndori land area. The positive and negative values are found in their lives. The positive values that may form of the character for the next generation are religious, humble, peaceful, unifying, and courageous values that lead to the defensive attitude of the State and the character formation of the nation. However, there are still things that need serious attention, namely the attitudes, behavior, and actions of the legendary figures (the base of the division occurrence) that must be criticized or eliminated are murderers, robbers, and rapists, therefore, unlike not to negatively affect the personality of the children learners as the next generation of the nation

Social and Demographic Influences on Environmental Attitudes

Sociologists have studied environmental attitudes for over two decades. Much of this research has sought to determine what factors are related to these attitudes. Past research has shown that certain social and demographic variables tend to have a positive influence on environmentalism. One of the more valid and reliable indicators of environmentalism is the 12-item attitude scale known as the New Environmental Paradigm (NEP). That scale has been shown to consist of three sub-scales. This paper extends previous research by examining the relative influence of six independent variables (age, gender, race, education, income, and residence) on each of the sub-scales and the overall NEP scale. The analysis generally supports the hypotheses that younger people, women, whites, and people of higher education levels hold more environmental attitudes as measured by the NEP index. Income has a significant nonlinear effect

Maintaining Fluoroquinolone Class Efficacy: Review of Influencing Factors

Previous experience with antimicrobial resistance has emphasized the importance of appropriate stewardship of these pharmacotherapeutic agents. The introduction of fluoroquinolones provided potent new drugs directed primarily against gram-negative pathogens, while the newer members of this class demonstrate more activity against gram-positive species, including Streptococcus pneumoniae. Although these agents are clinically effective against a broad range of infectious agents, emergence of resistance and associated clinical failures have prompted reexamination of their use. Appropriate use revolves around two key objectives: 1) only prescribing antimicrobial therapy when it is beneficial and 2) using the agents(s) with optimal activity against the expected pathogens(s). Pharmacodynamic principles and properties can be applied to achieve the latter objective when prescribing agents belonging to the fluoroquinolone class. A focused approach emphasizing “correct-spectrum” coverage may reduce development of antimicrobial resistance and maintain class efficacy