15 pages., via online journal., Genetically modified organisms have been at the centre of a major public controversy, involving different interests and actors. While much attention has been devoted to consumer views on genetically modified food, there have been few attempts to understand the perceptions of genetically modified technology among farmers. By investigating perceptions of genetically modified organisms among Brazilian farmers, we intend to contribute towards filling this gap and thereby add the views of this stakeholder group to the genetically modified debate. A comparative analysis of our data and data from other studies indicate there is a complex variety of views on genetically modified organisms among farmers. Despite this diversity, we found variations in such views occur within limited parameters, concerned principally with expectations or concrete experiences regarding the advantages of genetically modified crops, perceptions of risks associated with them, and ethical questions they raise. We then propose a classification of prevailing profiles to represent the spectrum of perceptions of genetically modified organisms among farmers.
18 pages., via online journal, The aim of this paper is to investigate the perceptions of small-scale farmers in Brazil towards genetically modified (GM) crops based on a sample of 15 focus groups involving 111 individuals. The analysis of the corpus shows heterogeneous perceptions regarding these crops, shaped by diverse factors, including economic prospects and concerns with the impact on health and the environment. There are many misgivings about these effects among the farmers, who are keen to receive unbiased information on the topic. These uncertainties affect them more as consumers, as most would prefer eating GM-free food, than as producers, as they consider other aspects, especially economic feasibility, when deciding what to grow. Although most farmers believe they should have a voice in decision-making on agricultural issues, few have made concerted efforts to be heard.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 7 Document Number: D09983
Notes:
This conference report and accompanying materials are maintained in ACDC storage., Project file from the International section of the Agricultural Communications Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign., This is the report of an international workshop involving 16 Latin American and Caribbean countries at Cali, Colombia, April 14-18, 1986. Examines needs and potentials for strengthening communications linkages among national and international agricultural research organizations organizations serving that region. File includes abstracts in English as well as correspondence about some follow-up activities.
Araujo, Jose Geraldo Fernandes de (author), Machado-Filho, Francisco (author), Ribon, Miguel (author), Rocha, Dilson Seabra (author), and Theibaut, Jose Tarcisio Lima (author)
Format:
Journal article
Language:
Portuguese with English summary
Publication Date:
1982
Published:
Brazil: Vicosa, Brazil : Universidade Federal de Vicosa.
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 87 Document Number: C05857
