Don't forget the locals: Understanding citizens' acceptance of bio-based technologies

Abstract

Bio-based technologies such as biorefineries and aquaponics are considered key factors for the transition towards a sustainable bioeconomy, but they may fail due to a lack of public acceptance. The present study explores the level and determinants of citizens' general and local acceptance of two technologies (biorefineries and aquaponics) in two regions (a transition and a non-transition region). Furthermore, the relevance of key determinants, – more specifically social trust, affect, and perceived benefits and risks – in predicting acceptance are explored using partial-least-squares structural equation modeling. In total, 1989 participants from the transition region Rheinische Revier and other non-transition regions of the German state of North-Rhine Westphalia completed the online survey. The results show considerable consistency across the investigated contexts regarding the importance of the behavioral constructs in explaining citizens’ technology acceptance, confirming the derived conceptual framework. Our findings also reveal a lower local acceptance of both biorefineries and aquaponics when compared to general acceptance rates, pointing to the so-called NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) effect. Moreover, local acceptance was lower in the transition region, underlining the particular need for effective communication and participation strategies in those regions to successfully implement a sustainable bioeconomy.