Beyond plastic – Consumers prefer food packaging derived from genetically modified plants

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Authors

The technology of genetically modified organisms (GMO) and especially genetically modified plants (GMP) applied in agriculture is a key element in a bioeconomy-based sustainability transition. However, consumers in many European countries allegedly disapprove of ‘green biotechnology’. Drawing on innovation adoption and risk perception literature, we explore the acceptance of GMP-based food packaging. Fossil-fuel-based production and plastic waste have become a major concern in many societies, and GMP-based technologies might offer solutions. Taking fully degradable material based on GMP as an example to replace conventional plastic in many applications, we present new insights into the GMP debate using a choice-based conjoint analysis in four European countries. Our results show that GMP-based packaging material is preferred to conventional plastic packaging in all countries. We present implications for research policies.

Original languageEnglish
Article number104883
JournalResearch Policy
Volume52
Issue number10
Number of pages12
ISSN0048-7333
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 01.12.2023

Bibliographical note

© 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.
Funding Information:
This publication is part of the project Sustainable Co-Production [053.80.738] of the research programme [ERA-Net Cofund Action under the research and innovation programme Horizon 2020] “Tobacco as sustainable production platform of the natural biopolymer cyanophycin as co-product to oil and protein,” which is partly financed by the Dutch Research Council (NWO), the German Federal Ministry for education and research (BMBF) and by the Argentine government.The Finnish part of the data collection was financed by the Business School, University of Eastern Finland. We especially thank Prof. Tommi Laukkanen for arranging the funding.

Funding Information:
This publication is part of the project Sustainable Co-Production [053.80.738] of the research programme [ERA-Net Cofund Action under the research and innovation programme Horizon 2020 ] “Tobacco as sustainable production platform of the natural biopolymer cyanophycin as co-product to oil and protein,” which is partly financed by the Dutch Research Council ( NWO ), the German Federal Ministry for education and research ( BMBF ) and by the Argentine government .

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Authors

    Research areas

  • Bioeconomy, Europe, Genetically modified plants, Innovation adoption, Plastic packaging, Risk perception
  • Management studies