6pgs, A nationwide study was undertaken in China to understand why public interest has shifted away from agriculture and to discuss approaches that may help restore interest and support for agriculture. The study collected 2586 questionnaires from 242 cities in 31 provinces in mainland China. The results suggest that agriculture is still of public interest, but interest has shifted from traditional farming to the consumer perspective in food safety, nutrition and health, food security and agricultural history. Two groups in this study, the younger generation and those with college degrees, show less interest in production agriculture. The accelerating shift in population from rural China to urban areas explains why these two groups are less connected with agricultural issues. The authors contend that it is critically important to keep the urban population knowledgeable of the importance of agriculture and suggest ways to improve communication and support from this educated, city-dweller point of view in order to ensure a stable and secure future. The approach of science appreciation (ways to effectively communicate science to general publics) is proposed to effectively gain renewed interest and engagement with the public in the science of agriculture in order to optimize the needs and benefits from agriculture to society.
Kahle, R.R. (author), Lee, R.L. (author), and Missouri Water Resources Research Center, University of Missouri-Columbia}Missouri Water Resources Research Center, University of Missouri-Columbia
Format:
Report
Publication Date:
1974
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 46 Document Number: B05629
United States: Troy, Ohio: North American Association for Environmental Education
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 53 Document Number: D08989
Notes:
James E. Grunig Collection, Pages 50-82 in L. A. Grunig (ed.), Environmental activism revisited: the changing nature of communication through organizational public relations, special interest groups and the mass media.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: D09064
Notes:
James E. Grunig Collection, Pages 50-82 in Grunig, Larissa A. (Ed.), Monographs in Environmental Education and Environmental Studies: Environmental activism revisited: The changing nature of communication through organizational public relations, special interest groups and the mass media. The North American Association for Environmental Education, Troy, Ohio. 32 pages.
