GMO Research Programme - Reports
Consumer willingness to pay to reduce GMOs in food and increase the robustness of GM labelling
Ref EPG 1/5/213
Synopsis
This study is the first quantitative, economic assessment of consumer responses to purchasing foods containing GMOs based on a nationally representative dataset. The report uses survey methodologies based on presenting consumers with a hypothetical situation in which they are asked to choose how much they are willing to pay for a good which includes among its characteristics the attribute which the researcher is seeking to value.
The two core questions addressed in this study are:
- What are the benefits of increasing the robustness of the GM food labelling regime?
- What are the benefits of a reduction in GM labelling threshold levels?
Respondents were also asked questions regarding some general issues concerning GMOs in food, including issues of trust and questions about the testing and commercial development of agricultural GMOs.
The study was commissioned to inform a consultation on the domestic implementation of new EC rules on GM food and feed and the traceability and labelling of GMOs. The main conclusions of the study were highlighted in the consultation documents on which stakeholders were asked to comment.
Start and completion dates
Project started April 2003; completed May 2004
Final report
Available to download in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format (680 KB - large file - you are recommended to read the further information available on our Help page about downloading or reading PDF documents)
Other publications
None.
Contact details
Contractors
Trevor Young
Professor of Agricultural and Environmental Economics
Head of School of Economic Studies
The University of Manchester
Oxford Road
Manchester
M13 9PL
trevor.young@man.ac.uk
Defra
GM Policy Team; Regulation and International
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
Zone 3/G9
Ashdown House
123 Victoria Street
London
SW1E 6DE
GM@defra.gsi.gov.uk
Page last modified:
14 May, 2007
Page published: 2 March 2004