Consumer attitudes toward food crops developed by CRISPR/Cas9 in Costa Rica

Abstract

Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) technology has been used to confer crop resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses and to improve crop yields and nutritional quality. However, lack of consumer acceptance could potentially restrict the development and further commercialization of CRISPR crops. Therefore, a survey among 1018 adults in Costa Rica was conducted to analyze perceptions and attitudes toward the production and potential consumption of CRISPR/Cas9 crops. Regarding knowledge of gene editing via CRISPR/Cas9, 3.7% of the interviewees had heard or read a little (1.9%), some (1.2%), or a lot (0.6%) about the topic. In general, a high percentage of Costa Rican consumers would accept the use of gene editing for nature conservation (84.5%), curing diseases in animals (83.0%), crop improvement (80.9%) and curing human diseases (80.2%). Regarding potential benefits, interviewees agreed that CRISPR foods would increase crop production in the country (66.0%), improve the economy (63.7%), and bring benefits to their families (60.7%) and the environment (57.4%). Nearly half of the interviewees perceived low or no risk to the quality of life, health, and environment. A higher percentage would consume CRISPR foods if the nutritional quality were better (70.8%), if they were cheaper than conventional products (61.0%), and if they were available in the national market (59.4%). Finally, approximately half of the interviewees would be willing to purchase a kilo of rice or beans (traditional Costa Rican food products) if they were priced the same as conventional products. Our survey among Costa Rica adults showed a little knowledge about gene editing via CRISPR/Cas9. Nevertheless, a high percentage of consumers would accept the use of gene editing for different purposes, and agree that CRISPR foods could bring potential benefits for crop production the economy, and the environment.