Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 175 Document Number: C29978
Notes:
Presented at the Agricultural Communications Section of the Southern Association of Agricultural Scientists Conference, Orlando, Florida, February 7-9, 2010. 24 pages.
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.
USA: Washington, D.C. : United States Department of Agriculture
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 69 Document Number: C02958
Notes:
James F. Evans Collection. Claude W. Gifford Collection., 56 p., Goals of the proceedings were to increase public knowledge about agricultural biotechnology and examine the role of the federal government in regulating the result of such research. Part 7 features "How can biotechnology reach the public?"
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: C29772
Notes:
Pages 161-178 in Dominique Brossard, James Shanahan and T. Clint Nesbitt (eds.), The media, the public and agricultural biotechnology. CAB International, Oxon, U.K. 405 pages.
