A stakeholder approach to investigating public perception and attitudes towards agricultural biotechnology in Ghana

Yawson, Robert M. and Quaye, Wilhemina and Williams, Irene E. and Yawson, Ivy (2008): A stakeholder approach to investigating public perception and attitudes towards agricultural biotechnology in Ghana. Published in: Tailoring Biotechnologies , Vol. 4, No. 1-2 (2008): pp. 55-70.

Abstract

A stakeholder survey was conducted in Ghana to assess the level of public perceptions and acceptance of agricultural biotechnologies. A total of 100 respondents drawn from academia, Non-governmental organizations, business community, government and other stakeholders were interviewed on their views on self-protection attitudes, health and economic benefits, skepticism and optimism about agricultural biotechnologies as well as the level of confidence in existing government regulatory systems to protect society against any negative effects of biotechnological issues. Although half of the sample interviewed did not accept biotechnologies in general and GM foods in particular, there was rather high approval of some specific health and economic benefits. About 80 percent of the sample interviewed lack confidence in existing government regulatory systems probably due to inadequate capacity. Upgrading of the existing regulatory system with adequate capacity to regulate the ethical and moral issues associated with biotechnologies and GM foods was recommended

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Biotechnology, Stakeholder, Acceptance, GM Foods
• Subjects: A - General Economics and Teaching > A1 - General Economics; L - Industrial Organization > L6 - Industry Studies: Manufacturing; O - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth > O1 - Economic Development > O13 - Agriculture ; Natural Resources ; Energy ; Environment ; Other Primary Products; A - General Economics and Teaching > A2 - Economic Education and Teaching of Economics; L - Industrial Organization > L6 - Industry Studies: Manufacturing > L66 - Food ; Beverages ; Cosmetics ; Tobacco ; Wine and Spirits; N - Economic History > N7 - Transport, Trade, Energy, Technology, and Other Services; A - General Economics and Teaching > A1 - General Economics > A10 - General; P - Economic Systems > P3 - Socialist Institutions and Their Transitions > P32 - Collectives ; Communes ; Agriculture; L - Industrial Organization > L2 - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior > L24 - Contracting Out ; Joint Ventures ; Technology Licensing; Q - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics ; Environmental and Ecological Economics > Q1 - Agriculture > Q18 - Agricultural Policy ; Food Policy; O - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth > O1 - Economic Development > O14 - Industrialization ; Manufacturing and Service Industries ; Choice of Technology; Q - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics ; Environmental and Ecological Economics > Q1 - Agriculture > Q16 - R&D ; Agricultural Technology ; Biofuels ; Agricultural Extension Services; Q - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics ; Environmental and Ecological Economics > Q1 - Agriculture; O - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth > O1 - Economic Development; L - Industrial Organization > L2 - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior; Q - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics ; Environmental and Ecological Economics > Q1 - Agriculture > Q17 - Agriculture in International Trade; P - Economic Systems > P3 - Socialist Institutions and Their Transitions; N - Economic History > N5 - Agriculture, Natural Resources, Environment, and Extractive Industries

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