消费者视角的转基因食品研究进展

消费者对于转基因食品的态度是一个世界各国普遍关注的问题。对近期相关文献整理分析,从消费者对转基因食品的态度及其影响因素、支付意愿及其影响因素、转基因问题研究方法等方面进行综述,概括了基于消费者视角的转基因食品研究进展。     

From job training to green jobs: A case study of a young adult employment program centered on environmental restoration in New York City,USA

The demand for a well-trained green-collar labor force will increase as many cities implement sustainability and green infrastructure plans. Additionally, many green jobs training programs are intended to provide pathways out of poverty for low-skilled workers. In this case study, we analyze the experiences of graduates from a New York City, USA green jobs training program targeting 18–24 year olds previously disconnected from the workforce as they transition to full-time employment. Graduates of the program work directly in arboriculture, ecological restoration, landscape design, and horticulture. Despite the well-documented benefits of nature on individual socio-psychological well-being, scant research has investigated the effects of working professionally in urban natural resources management. Our findings reveal the significant challenges facing training program graduates and their supervisors, but also the benefits of urban conservation job training and employment that are potentially transformational for these economically disadvantaged young adults. Green job training and employment present real opportunities for intellectual stimulation and an increased sense of accomplishment, due in part to the uniqueness of environmental work. Individuals reported positive environmental attitudes and behaviors as a result of green jobs training and employment.     

Factors Influencing U.S. Consumers' Preference for Positively Versus Negatively Framed GM Food Symbols

This study explores the factors that may have a bearing on consumers' preference for positively and negatively framed symbols on food products containing genetically modified ingredients. An online survey tested the influence of three categories of variables—individual cognitive-psychological attributes, media and information-related variables, and demographic characteristics—on consumers' preference for symbols that have been framed in a positive or negative way. The findings indicated that consumers' preference for positively framed symbols was determined by their objective knowledge of genetic modification, education, and income, while preference for negatively framed symbols was influenced by objective knowledge and exposure to food labels.     

Farmer knowledge,perception and management of soils in the Las Vegas agricultural district,Madrid, Spain

A sample group of 119 farmers from a semi‐arid district of Madrid was interviewed to determine the knowledge of individuals about soil conservation and management. Farmers commonly identify physical factors in the landscape that are visually recognizable and those chemical factors that clearly affect productivity. Often, factors, such as salinity or pH that require laboratory analysis, are less readily identified. Farmer knowledge of soils is influenced by their main source of income, gender, education and age. Although there is a high degree of correspondence between scientific and traditional knowledge of soil, some gaps have been identified, notably those related to erosion. Key steps identified for promoting the adoption of sustainable soil management practices to farmers were as follows: involvement of public institutions, the need for increased agricultural prices and an improvement in training and public awareness. Farmers were aware of their own limitations and demanded capacity building, technical and policy support.     

Landscape change with agricultural intensification in a rural watershed,southwestern Ohio,U.S.A.

Specialized cash grain production, emergent in the midwestern United States during the post-WWII era, typifies the Upper Four Mile Creek watershed in southwestern Ohio. This style of agriculture intensifies cropland use, with consequent increases in soil erosion and stream sedimentation - a serious problem in the lower reservoir, Acton Lake. Agricultural statistics and aerial photographs compiled between 1934 and 1984 were used to quantify agricultural dynamics and landscape change in the watershed, including land-use apportionment, diversity, and the structural configuration of forest, woodland, and old-field/brushland patches and corridors. A questionnaire sent to all land owners in the basin documented farm-level characteristics and factors that influence management decisions. Crop diversity (H) in Preble County, Ohio decreased from 1.42 in 1934 to 1.17 in 1982, as corn and soybeans dominated the landscape mosaic. Yields rose, but net profits were reduced by declining prices per bushel and increases in fertilizer and petroleum-based subsidies. Landuse diversity in the county also declined (H = 1.37 in 1934 tot 0.80 in 1982) in response to cropland expansion, whereas forest land in the watershed increased from 1605 to 2603 ha. Fragmentation declined and the landscape became polarized after 1956, with a concentration of agricultural patches in the upper watershed and forest-patch coalescence in stream gullies and state park land in the lower watershed. The questionnaire (~ 29% return) further supported, at the farm-level, observed regional trends toward expansion (farm coalescence and lease contracts) and specialization (conversion toward corn and soybeans). The most important factors influencing farm size and management were better equipment and family traditions. Thus, cultural and technological factors that operate at the farm-level, coupled with meso-scale variation in the physical conditions of a catchment basin, tend to influence landscape-level patterns more than regional socioeconomics and governmental policies.     

Attitudes of Swiss consumers towards meat from entire or immunocastrated boars: a representative survey

Male piglets are castrated in order to prevent boar taint in pork. The surgical intervention is currently done without anaesthesia. Growing public concern about the welfare issue of this procedure forces the meat industry to evaluate alternative methods. The acceptance of such methods was studied in Switzerland within a large representative survey on the image of Swiss meat. Five questions were aimed at our subject. It was found that only a small part of the population has actually experienced boar taint. Nevertheless, the majority would not buy products made from tainted meat even if the absence of any perceivable boar taint and identical quality with current products could be guaranteed. The acceptance of meat from immunocastrated animals was low. Among the proposed four alternative methods, the production of entire males (with two options regarding processing of the tainted meat), immunocastration and castration with anaesthesia, only the last one seems to be acceptable to the interviewees.     

Teaching Tolerance? Effects of Conservation Education Programs on Wildlife Acceptance Capacity for the American Alligator

Growing populations of American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) in human-dominated landscapes present a challenge to wildlife managers concerned with promoting coexistence between humans and alligators. Where structural fixes such as direct removal of animals are not viable options, cognitive fixes such as conservation education programs should be considered. We evaluated the effectiveness of two conservation education programs (classroom-based program, field excursion) on three outcome variables that help define wildlife acceptance capacity for American alligators: beliefs and attitudes, perceived risk, and potential for coexistence. We found respondents who took part in both education programs had more positive beliefs and attitudes toward alligators, and believed in a greater potential for coexistence than individuals in a control group who did not undergo either intervention. Control group respondents also perceived higher risk from alligators. These data suggest that conservation education programs can impact stakeholder beliefs, attitudes, and perceptions, ultimately influencing acceptance capacity for predators.     

A Comparison of Pig Farmers' and Veterinarians' Perceptions and Intentions to Reduce Antimicrobial Usage in Six European Countries

Antimicrobial (AM) resistance is an increasing problem in human and veterinary medicine. To manage this problem, the usage of AM should be reduced in pig farming, as well as in other areas. It is important to investigate the factors that influence both pig farmers' and veterinarians' intentions to reduce AM usage, which is a prerequisite for developing intervention measures. We conducted a mail survey among pig farmers (N = 1,294) and an online survey among veterinarians (N = 334) in Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Sweden and Switzerland. The farmers' survey assessed the perceived risks and benefits of and need for AM usage; the intention to reduce AM usage; farmers' efficacy (i.e. perception of their ability to reduce AM usage); support from their veterinarian; and the future reduction potential of AM usage. Additionally, self‐reported reduction behaviours, the perceived farmers' barriers to reduce AM usage and relationships with farmers were assessed in the veterinarians' survey. The results showed that farmers and veterinarians had similar perceptions of the risks and benefits of AM usage. Veterinarians appeared to be more optimistic than pig farmers about reducing AM usage in pig farming. Farmers believed that their efficacy over AM reduction was relatively high. Farmers' intention to reduce AM usage and veterinarians' self‐reported reduction behaviours were mainly associated with factors concerning the feasibility of reducing AM usage. To promote prudent AM usage, pig farmers should learn and experience how to reduce usage by applying alternative measures, whereas veterinarians should strengthen their advisory role and competencies to support and educate farmers.     

Hunter acceptance of antlerless moose harvest in Alaska: Importance of agency trust,proximity of hunter residence to hunting area,and hunting experience

Liberalized harvest of antlerless moose (Alces alces) in Alaska has resulted in conflict between wildlife managers and hunters. To address this issue, I surveyed moose hunters (n = 845, 35% response rate) to quantify and characterize acceptance of antlerless moose harvest. I found that 16%, 69%, and 15% of hunters thought antlerless hunts were always, sometimes, or never acceptable, respectively. Characteristics of the never acceptable group frequently differed from the other two groups. Using a multinomial logistic regression, I estimated that the odds of a hunter being in the never acceptable group was more likely if he/she strongly distrusted agency data (odds = 4.8), resided in the area with antlerless hunts (odds = 3.5), and had >20 years of moose hunting experience (odds = 3.4). My findings imply that a relatively small proportion of hunters can disproportionately direct wildlife management attention, especially in the absence of scientifically derived information on the human dimensions.