DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Farmers' Perception and Cultivating Intention on Genetically Modified Organisms

유전자변형 작물에 대한 농업인들의 인식과 재배의도

  • Lee, Bumkyu (National Academy of Agricultural Science, RDA) ;
  • Kim, Kyugja (Department of Consumer & Housing Studies, The Catholic University of Korea) ;
  • Ra, Nuri (National Academy of Agricultural Science, RDA) ;
  • Lee, Keunpyo (Technology Cooperation Bureau, RDA) ;
  • Kweon, Soon Jong (National Academy of Agricultural Science, RDA) ;
  • Cho, Hyun Suk (National Academy of Agricultural Science, RDA) ;
  • Ryu, Tae-Hun (National Academy of Agricultural Science, RDA)
  • 이범규 (농촌진흥청 국립농업과학원) ;
  • 김경자 (가톨릭대학교 소비자주거학과) ;
  • 라누리 (농촌진흥청 국립농업과학원) ;
  • 이근표 (농촌진흥청 기술협력국) ;
  • 권순종 (농촌진흥청 국립농업과학원) ;
  • 조현석 (농촌진흥청 국립농업과학원) ;
  • 류태훈 (농촌진흥청 국립농업과학원)
  • Received : 2013.09.17
  • Accepted : 2014.01.21
  • Published : 2014.03.29

Abstract

The farmers' perception on genetically modified (GM) crops is one of the important factors for the development and commercialization of GM crops. Although many researches have usually studied on the consumers' perception on GMOs, the farmers' perception has not been studied much in Korea. In this study, a survey was conducted from Dec. 2009 to Jan. 2010 to investigate Korean farmers' perception and cultivating willingness of GM crops. The survey data were collected from 717 farmers who lived in four Korean cities (Nonsan, Kimcheon, Chungju, and Sangju) using standardized questionnaires. Results showed that 86% of the respondents were already exposed to the information related to GM crops. The reason of GM crops development that respondents had heard were 'increased productivity' (31%), 'disease resistance' (21%), 'insect resistance' (18%), and so on. The biggest information source was 'TV/radio' (50%), and the main information content was 'concern about food safety' (45%). More than half of respondents perceived that GM crops could be beneficial to people, however, 61% of them concerned about GM food safety at the same time. Thirty nine percent of farmers showed positive attitudes and were interested in cultivating GM crops, and the preferred GM traits was 'disease resistance' (20%), 'good to health' (18%), 'increased productivity' (16%), 'taste & flavor improvement' (14%).

유전자변형생물체(Genetically Modified Organisms, GMOs)는 식량, 환경, 에너지부족 등 인류가 직면하고 있는 각종 문제점을 해결하기 위한 대안으로 그 개발 및 이용이 가속화되고 있다. 특히 몇몇 국내 개발 GM 작물은 안전성평가 단계에 있어서 조만간 실용화될 것으로 전망되고 있다. GMO에 대한 일반인들의 인식조사 연구는 대부분 소비자를 대상으로 진행되어왔으며 실제 GM 작물이 상업화되었을 때 이를 재배할 경작자에 대한 인식조사 연구는 부족한 실정이다. 본 연구에서 는 농업인의 GMO에 대한 인식 파악 및 재배의도를 알아보기 위해 설문조사와 표적집단면접(FGI)를 병행하였다. 설문조사는 논산, 김천, 충주, 상주 지역의 농민 747명을 대상으로 실시하였으며, FGI는 농업분야에 종사하고 있는 남녀 농업인 5명을 대상으로 수행하였다. 조사 결과 GM 작물에 대한 인지수준과 지식수준은 각각 85.5%, 65%로 일반인과 크게 다르지 않았다. GM 작물에 대한 정보 실태로써 '알고 있거나 들어 본적이 있는 GM작물 종류'에 대해 '수량증진'에 대한 응답이 가장 높았으며, '병저항성', '해충저항성' 순으로 조사되었다. GM 작물에 대한 인식은 '긍정적'과 '부정적' 응답이 비슷한 분포를 나타냈으나, GMO에 대한 섭취 및 재배 의향은 전반적으로 부정적인 것으로 조사되었다. 특히 GMO의 재배보다는 섭취에 더 부정적인 것으로 나타났다. GM 작물 형질에 대한 선호도로는 '병 저항성' 형질이 가장 높았으나 '맛', '수량', '건강개선' 등의 형질에 대해서도 고른 응답을 보였다.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

Supported by : 국립농업과학원

References

  1. Biosafety white paper. 2011. LMO perception and communication (http://www.biosafety.or.kr).
  2. Hall C. 2008. Identifying farmer attitudes towards genetically modified (GM) crops in Scotland: Are they pro- or anti-GM? Geoforum 39: 204-212. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2007.06.003
  3. Huh, K.-O. 2003. The investigation of factors influencing consumers' perceived risk, and decision-making to purchase GMO food. J. Korean Home Manag. Associ. 21(4): 69-77.
  4. ISAAA. 2013. Global status of commercialized biotech/GM crops: 2012, BRIEF 44 (http://www.isaaa.org).
  5. KBCH. 2013. Stats of GM crops import in Korea (http://www.biosafety.or.kr).
  6. Kim, B.-S. 2002. A survey analysis on the consumer's and farmer's perception of biotechnology and genetically modified organisms in Korea. Korean J. Agric. Econ. 43(3): 30-31.
  7. Kim, H.-Y. and M. Kim. 2011. Consumer awareness and attitudes about genetically modified foods-according to area, occupation, and education. Korean J. Food Cult. 26(6): 657-672.
  8. Kim, K., S.-C. Suh, and B. Lee. 2010. Consumers' perception on GM food: Quantitative and qualitative approach. Consumer Pol. Edu. Review. 6(3): 75-93.
  9. Kwon, S. H., I. Chung, M.-K. Choi, K.-Y. Chae, and K. H. Kyung. 2008. Changes in Korean consumer's perception and attitudes toward genetically-modified foods. J. Fd. Hyg. Safety 23(3): 182-190.
  10. Madsen K. H., J. Lassen, and P. Sandøe. 2003. Genetically modified crops: a US farmer's versus an EU citizen's point of view. Acta Agri. Scandinavica, Section B - Soil & Plant Sci. 53(S1): 60-67.
  11. Mauro I. J., S. M. McLachlan, and R. C. Van Acker. 2009. Farmer knowledge and a priori risk analysis: pre-release evaluation of genetically modified Roundup Ready wheat across the Canadian prairies. Environ Sci Pollut Res 16: 689-701. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-009-0177-6
  12. PG Economics. 2011. Biotech crops: evidence of global outcomes and impacts 1996-2009 (http://www.pgeconomics.co.uk).
  13. You, S.-Y. and H. Yin. 2008. A study of consumer attitude and purchasing behavior toward organic food and genetically modified food. Korean J. Agric. Manag. Policy 35(1): 141-164.