19 pages., via online journal., The agricultural sector continues to be challenged by the public with respect to how it deals with a wide range of issues. These issues may be viewed as component parts of an implied “new contract” between society and agriculture. The “old contract” with society obligated agriculture to provide safe, wholesome, abundant food at affordable prices. The new contract includes several additional components including a heightened focus on food safety and quality, consideration of environmental impacts of agricultural production, and increased consideration for the well-being of animals. If production agriculture effectively deals with these new components, society will likely continue supporting the use of public sector resources for agricultural research, education, and commodity programs. Recent surveys indicate the agricultural sector faces a formidable challenge in dealing with issues involving the risks and benefits of agricultural production practices. This is due to a decline in consumer confidence in the safety of the food supply, the relative level of scientific literacy, and a growing mistrust of new technologies within some demographic groups. Surveys indicate scientists and extension professionals are trusted by the public and thus can play a key role in public education.
Administrators and peers must actively support and reward scientists and extension professionals for their contributions to public education. Educating the public requires an understanding that the public, in general, does not view risk from a quantitative standpoint but rather from a qualitative one. Effective public education activities should be based upon proven public policy education methodology. This approach encourages the educators to refrain from assuming an advocacy position and allows maximum opportunity for the public to be in control of the decision-making process as required in the democratic system.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 149 Document Number: D06744
Notes:
Online via ProQuest Digital Dissertations. PhD dissertation, Colorado State University, Ft. Collins. Publication No. AAT 9303860. Source: DAI-B 53/09, p. 4436, March 1993. 1 page., Results suggest that a risk/benefit with options approach has potential for raising consumer rational alertness.
Bruhn, C.M. (author), Diazknauf, K. (author), Feldman, N. (author), Harwood, J. (author), Ho, G. (author), Ivans, E. (author), Kubin, L. (author), Lamp, C. (author), Marshall, M. (author), Osaki, S. (author), Stanford, G. (author), Steinbring, Y. (author), Valdez, I. (author), Williamson, E. (author), and Wunderlich, E. (author)
Format:
Journal article
Publication Date:
1992
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: C29959
food labels, AGRICOLA FNI 92002051, In the early stages of number coding for food additives it is essential to evaluate how well consumers can identify and interpret this system and assess their attitudes to its introduction. This was tested in a study when 502 consumers were interviewed by questionnaire in six Perth suburban supermarkets and the same questionnaire was mailed to 50 members of the Allergy Association of Australia living in Western Australia. Results reported in this paper indicate only a little over a third of the general public group were able to make use of the system correctly, whereas the majority of those with recognized allergies had no problem. The data showed that in general the uses of additives in food are misunderstood and that there is a need for consumer education, ideally with the shopping center as a venue. (original)
Hayes, Dermot J. (author), Kliebenstein, James (author), Shin, Seung-Youll (author), Shogren, Jason F. (author), and Department of Economics, Iowa State University, Ames, IA
Format:
Journal article
Publication Date:
1992
Published:
UK: Food and Nutrition Press, Trumbull, CT
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 95 Document Number: C07527
