Producer Biotech Food Knowledge Differences: Findings from a Three-State Survey

Over the years, public opinion in the United States on agricultural biotechnology has shifted from one of extreme consumer concern to one of indifference. This paper analyzes gender, ethnic, education, age, and household-income differences in producers ’ biotechnology knowledge. Mail questionnaires were used in collecting data. Responses to selected questions were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. Chi-squares tests showed statisti-cally signifi cant differences in biotechnology knowledge among farmers who participated in the three-state survey. Although most public-opinion studies have fo-cused on consumer attitudes towards biotechnol-ogy (Schilling et al. 2003; Onyango et al. 2003; Alexander and Schleman 2003; Pew Initiatives o