Pesticides and Integrated Crop Management food products Factors affecting their acceptance by consumers

Simoglou & Roditakis 2023
Published: Sep 10, 2023
Keywords:
Consumer’s attitudes pesticide residues factor analysis logistic regression European Green Deal integrated crop management
Konstantinos B. Simoglou
Department of Quality and Phytosanitary Inspections, Rural Economy and Veterinary Directorate, Regional Unit of Drama, 66133 Drama, Greece
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6689-0291
Emmanouil Roditakis
Department of Agriculture, School of Agricultural Sciences, Hellenic Mediterranean University, Estavromenos, 71004 Heraklion, Greece
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5938-2977
Abstract

The forthcoming changes in the Common Agricultural Policy of the EU are expected to accrue changes to agricultural food products, in terms of pesticide use and food certification. Knowledge of the factors that affect consumer perceptions of certified Integrated Crop Management (ICM) food is imperative to making targeted interventions or taking corrective actions in the future. For this purpose, in the spring of 2021, a survey was conducted in Greece with 1,846 participants. Exploratory factor analysis was applied to the questionnaire variables, followed by binomial logistic regression analysis regarding the research question: If the participants consider that ICM food products are safe or not, in terms of the presence of pesticide residues. Among the participants, the likelihood to express a positive attitude towards the research question was greater among those who trust food certification, those who get informed about pesticides from specialized information sources, who are male, those who positively perceive the contribution of pesticides and finally, the older aged participants (> 45 years old). The results indicate that consumers consider ICM food products to be safe and acceptable in terms of pesticide use issues. Trust in labeling, traceability and certification procedures is the key factor in accepting ICM products. It also appears that specialized information sources on pesticides (bulletins of public bodies, official websites, agronomists, scientific journals) play a key role in shaping consumer views. Measures should be taken by official bodies for targeted consumer information on pesticides and food safety through general information sources and social networks.

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Author Biography
Emmanouil Roditakis, Department of Agriculture, School of Agricultural Sciences, Hellenic Mediterranean University, Estavromenos, 71004 Heraklion, Greece

Associate Professor of Agricultural Entomology and Pharmacology Department of Agriculture, School of Agricultural Sciences, Hellenic Mediterranean University

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