Abstract
Both cisgenesis and transgenesis are plant breeding techniques that can be used to introduce new genes into plant genomes. However, transgenesis uses gene(s) from a non-plant organism or from a donor plant that is sexually incompatible with the recipient plant while cisgenesis involves the introduction of gene(s) from a crossable—sexually compatible—plant. Traditional breeding techniques could possibly achieve the same results as those from cisgenesis, but would require a much larger timeframe. Cisgenesis allows plant breeders to enhance an existing cultivar more quickly and with little to no genetic drag. The current regulation in the European Union (EU) on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) treats cisgenic plants the same as transgenic plants and both are mandatorily labeled as GMOs. This study estimates European consumers’ willingness-to-pay (WTP) for rice labeled as GM, cisgenic, with environmental benefits (which cisgenesis could provide), or any combination of these three attributes. Data were collected from 3,002 participants through an online survey administered in Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Spain and the United Kingdom in 2013. Censored regression models were used to model consumers’ WTP in each country. Model estimates highlight significant differences in WTP across countries. In all five countries, consumers are willing-to-pay a premium to avoid purchasing rice labeled as GM. In all countries except Spain, consumers have a significantly higher WTP to avoid consuming rice labeled as GM compared to rice labeled as cisgenic, suggesting that inserting genes from the plant’s own gene pool is more acceptable to consumers. Additionally, French consumers are willing-to-pay a premium for rice labeled as having environmental benefits compared to conventional rice. These findings suggest that not all GMOs are the same in consumers’ eyes and thus, from a consumer preference perspective, the differences between transgenic and cisgenic products are recommended to be reflected in GMO labeling and trade policies.
Highlights
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations [1], food supply must drastically increase by 2050 to support the projected global population growth
In contrast to previous experimental and econometric analyses of consumers’ WTP for genetically modified organisms (GMOs)’s in Europe [11,20], this study examined if there are differences in acceptance and WTP for cisgenic and genetically modified (GM) food and addressed labeling issues associated with possible differentiation between cisgenic and transgenic products and the resulting environmental benefits
The results inform policy-makers on consumers’ opinions and help policy-makers design and implement appropriate legislation for the new varieties resulting from new breeding techniques, and more from cisgenesis
Summary
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations [1], food supply must drastically increase by 2050 to support the projected global population growth. The FAO estimates that compared to the world food production in 2008, the world’s food supply must increase by 70% by 2050 [1]. Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the staple food for nearly half of the world’s current population of seven billion people and the staple food of nearly 560 million impoverished consumers in Asia alone [2]. Unlike GM corn, soybeans, and cotton, GM rice is not currently commercially produced anywhere in the world. This is partially attributable to the high reluctance towards GM crops in several countries— towards GM rice and wheat. The European Union's (EU) stringent rules on GM crops and labeling, alongside European consumers’ strong aversions to GM food products send signals that discourage seed companies from developing and investing in GM rice and wheat
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