Costa Rican consumer perceptions of gene-editing

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Biotechnology
• Food Security
• Consumer Perception

Background:

• Climate change-induced droughts threaten Costa Rica's rice production and food security.
• CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing offers potential for developing drought-resistant rice varieties.
• Understanding consumer acceptance is crucial for adopting gene-edited agricultural products.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess Costa Rican consumers' attitudes towards gene-edited foods, specifically drought-resistant rice.
• To explore knowledge and perceptions of gene editing technology in agriculture.
• To identify factors influencing the consumption of gene-edited food products.

Main Methods:

• A survey of 1096 Costa Ricans was conducted, assessing attitudes, knowledge, and perceptions.
• Multiple regression analysis examined demographic influences (age, gender, education, economic status).
• K-means cluster analysis categorized consumers into negative, neutral, and positive groups regarding gene-edited food consumption.

Main Results:

• Overall, Costa Rican consumers are receptive to gene editing in agriculture and consuming its products.
• Acceptance extends to using gene editing for human and animal health applications.
• No significant demographic factors (age, gender, education, economic status) influenced consumption attitudes.

Conclusions:

• Costa Rican consumers demonstrate openness to gene-edited foods, particularly for agricultural benefits like drought resistance.
• Public perception supports gene editing for health but not for human trait design.
• Effective communication is vital to inform the public about gene editing's role in addressing climate change impacts on food security.