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The Effects of Information on Consumer Demand for Biotech Foods: Evidence from Experimental Auctions

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  • Tegene, Abebayehu
  • Huffman, Wallace E.
  • Rousu, Matthew
  • Shogren, Jason F.

Abstract

Consumers’ desires to make informed decisions about their food purchases have made the biotech food labeling issue an important public policy debate. The debate revolves around the benefits and risks of agricultural biotechnology. Agribusiness companies like Monsanto support agricultural biotechnology and say that biotech foods will help protect the environment, increase nutrition, and end world hunger (Council for Biotechnology Information, 2001). Environmental groups like Greenpeace oppose agricultural biotechnology and say that biotech foods cause allergic reaction, hurt the environment, and increase the power of multinational companies (Greenpeace, 2001). Consumer advocates and a wide range of environmental and food safety groups have mounted an active campaign against biotech foods. The average consumer (and farmer) may rely on the information from these interested parties, both pro and con, to make their decisions on biotech products. Huffman and Tegene (2002) have hypothesized that independent, third-party information improves social welfare in this environment. According to qualitative and quantitative research conducted in the United States by the International Food Information Council (IFIC), consumers accept food biotechnology when the benefits are effectively communicated (Schmidt, 2002).

Suggested Citation

  • Tegene, Abebayehu & Huffman, Wallace E. & Rousu, Matthew & Shogren, Jason F., 2003. "The Effects of Information on Consumer Demand for Biotech Foods: Evidence from Experimental Auctions," ISU General Staff Papers 200303010800001016, Iowa State University, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:isu:genstf:200303010800001016
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    Cited by:

    1. Lee, Ji Yong & Han, Doo Bong & Nayga Jr, Rodolfo M. & Lim, Song-Soo, 2011. "Valuing traceability of imported beef in Korea: an experimental auction approach," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 55(3), pages 1-14, September.
    2. Li Quan & McCluskey Jill J & Wahl Thomas I., 2004. "Effects of Information on Consumers' Willingness to Pay for GM-Corn-Fed Beef," Journal of Agricultural & Food Industrial Organization, De Gruyter, vol. 2(2), pages 1-18, May.
    3. Yingqi Zhong & Linhai Wu & Xiujuan Chen & Zuhui Huang & Wuyang Hu, 2018. "Effects of Food-Additive-Information on Consumers’ Willingness to Accept Food with Additives," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-17, October.
    4. Jin, Jing & Wailes, Eric & Dixon, Bruce & Nayga, Rodolfo M. Jr. & Zheng, Zhihao, 2014. "Consumer Acceptance and Willingness to Pay for Genetically Modified Rice in China," 2014 Annual Meeting, July 27-29, 2014, Minneapolis, Minnesota 170503, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    5. Dinah Pura T. Depositario & Rodolfo M. Nayga, Jr. & Ximing Wu & Tiffany P. Laude, 2009. "Effects of Information on Consumers' Willingness to Pay for Golden Rice," Asian Economic Journal, East Asian Economic Association, vol. 23(4), pages 457-476, December.
    6. James, Jennifer S. & Fleischer, Shelby J. & Johnson, David H. & Schwab, Bradley D. & Lord, John, 2005. "Consumer Purchases of Biotech Sweet Corn: Results from a Market Experiment," 2005 Annual meeting, July 24-27, Providence, RI 19213, American Agricultural Economics Association (New Name 2008: Agricultural and Applied Economics Association).
    7. Huffman, Wallace E., 2010. "Consumer Acceptance of Genetically Modified Foods: Traits, Labels and Diverse Information," Working Papers 93168, Iowa State University, Department of Economics.
    8. Terawaki, Taku, 2005. "Effects of Information on Consumer Risk Perception and Willingness to Pay for Non-Genetically Modified Corn Oil," 2005 Annual meeting, July 24-27, Providence, RI 19555, American Agricultural Economics Association (New Name 2008: Agricultural and Applied Economics Association).
    9. Syed Imran Ali Meerza & Sabrina Gulab & Kathleen R. Brooks & Christopher R. Gustafson & Amalia Yiannaka, 2022. "U.S. Consumer Attitudes toward Antibiotic Use in Livestock Production," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-20, June.
    10. Hans D. Steur & Jeroen Buysse & Shuyi Feng & Xavier Gellynck, 2013. "Role of Information on Consumers’ Willingness-to-pay for Genetically-modified Rice with Health Benefits: An Application to China," Asian Economic Journal, East Asian Economic Association, vol. 27(4), pages 391-408, December.
    11. Guillaume P. Gruère & Colin A. Carter & Y. Hossein Farzin, 2008. "What labelling policy for consumer choice? The case of genetically modified food in Canada and Europe," Canadian Journal of Economics, Canadian Economics Association, vol. 41(4), pages 1472-1497, November.
    12. Tongzhe Li & Kent D. Messer & Alisher Mamadzhanov & Jill J. McCluskey, 2020. "Preferences for local food: Tourists versus local residents," Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economics/Revue canadienne d'agroeconomie, Canadian Agricultural Economics Society/Societe canadienne d'agroeconomie, vol. 68(4), pages 429-444, December.
    13. Xue, Hong & Mainville, Denise Y. & You, Wen & Nayga, Rodolfo M., Jr., 2009. "Nutrition Knowledge, Sensory Characteristics and Consumers’ Willingness to Pay for Pasture-Fed Beef," 2009 Annual Meeting, July 26-28, 2009, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 49277, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    14. Armenak Markosyan & Jill J. McCluskey & Thomas I. Wahl, 2009. "Consumer Response to Information about a Functional Food Product: Apples Enriched with Antioxidants," Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economics/Revue canadienne d'agroeconomie, Canadian Agricultural Economics Society/Societe canadienne d'agroeconomie, vol. 57(3), pages 325-341, September.
    15. Fernandez-Cornejo, Jorge & Livingston, Michael J. & Mitchell, Lorraine & Wechsler, Seth, 2014. "Genetically Engineered Crops in the United States," Economic Research Report 164263, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.

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