Knowledge and attitudes towards genetically modified food among life sciences university students

Bc. Petr Veselský

Master's thesis

Abstract:

Genetically modified (GM) foods have the potential to provide solution in ensuring food security, however GM food acceptance is closely dependent on the perception of risks and benefits that can be generated through an individual's knowledge, available information, and trust to information. Therefore, the main aim of the study is to analyse the attitudes to GM food among life sciences university students. A cross-sectional survey-based study was conducted to explore the knowledge and attitudes of students toward GM foods. In total, 420 students from Bolivia and the Czech Republic participated in the study via online survey. The majority of the Czech students (88 %) self-reported positive subjective knowledge about GM food, while only 19 % of Bolivian students recognised themselves as knowledgeable about GM food production. A significant difference was found toward the willingness to consume GM food among the students from both countries (p < 0.001). Only 5 % of Bolivian students considered trustworthy the information about GM in food production provided by the government, while almost 55 % of Czech students have confidence in provided information. Based on the results there is a need to increase awareness particularly among Bolivian students about GM in food production

Keywords

Willingness to Consume, Risk and benefits perception, Trusted source of information, Knowledge and education, Importance of source of information

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 21. 4. 2022

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: Ing. Petra Chaloupková, Ph.D. dr. h. c.

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences

Master programme:
Agri-food Systems and Rural Development