Consumer Perceptions towards Introducing a Genetically Modified Banana (Musa spp.) in Uganda

The introduction of a genetically modified (GM) banana (Musa spp.) in Uganda is not without controversy. It is likely to generate a wide portfolio of concerns as the technology of genetic engineering is still in its early stages of development in Uganda. The purpose of this study is to show how consumers feel about GM banana biosafety risks and the potential challenges for marketing the product. The study analyzes socio-demographic characteristics, awareness and attitudes of banana-consuming households that would be affected by the introduction of a GM banana in Uganda. The study was conducted in different regions in Uganda where cooking bananas (‘matooke’, AAA-EA genome) are produced and consumed, including urban areas that are sole consumers of bananas. This allowed us to capture the heterogeneity in preferences across different population segments. The survey sample was drawn using a random multistage sampling procedure from the major banana-consuming regions in eastern, central, and southwestern Uganda. Respondents were stratified into rural and urban consumers of ‘matooke’ and received extra information about the GM banana. A total of 440 households were selected from current village listing for the survey. The results reveal that consumers trust local community leaders and public agricultural related organizations in controlling and regulating production and release of GM food and crops. Three main categories of consumer perceptions were identified: a) benefit; b) food and environmental concern; and c) future health concern. A comparison of consumer characteristics, perceptions and attitudes showed significant differences between rural and urban consumers. Consumers in rural areas are more likely to accept the introduction of a GM banana regardless of whether they grow or buy bananas. Urban consumers are more concerned about long-term health effects. Finally, we discuss the implications of the results for biotechnology and biosafety regulations for GM bananas in Uganda. INTRODUCTION In the mid 1990s, Uganda launched its long-term approach of breeding for resistance to banana (Musa spp.) productivity constraints using conventional breeding and genetic engineering methods. Through genetic engineering, the strategy is to develop genetically modified (GM) cultivars that are resistant to local pests and diseases, have improved agronomic attributes, and are acceptable to consumers (Kikulwe et al., 2007). The genetic engineering projects in Uganda have targeted the most popular and infertile cultivars that cannot be improved through conventional breeding. Currently, about 200 GM bananas with resistance against black leaf streak were planted in confined field trials undergoing biosafety field assessments. There are also a number of other GM bananas awaiting regulatory approval of the country’s National Biosafety Committee for confined field trials. After a thorough confined field testing, GM bananas are expected to be released into the environment for commercialization. However, the introduction of GM banana in Uganda is likely to generate a wide portfolio of concerns, as it has in other African countries. It is well known that concerns about compliance with biosafety regulations, environmental standards and food safety of Proc. IC on Banana & Plantain in Africa Eds.: T. Dubois et al. Acta Hort. 879, ISHS 2010 176 GM organisms can be an important obstacle to public acceptance of biotechnology products (Paarlberg, 2008). A number of studies have shown that acceptance of GM foods differs among consumers (e.g., Colson et al., 2008; Dannenberg et al., 2009). Although, the population could benefit substantially from GM crops in Africa (Wesseler, 2009), limited research is available on how consumers perceive introduction of GM crops (see Kimenju and De Groote (2008) study in Kenya). To understand consumer acceptance of GM banana in Uganda, a study was conducted in 2007 among banana-consuming households in both rural and urban areas. This paper reports results of consumer perception. METHODS AND MATERIALS A cross-sectional study was conducted in three regions in Uganda where cooking bananas (‘matooke’, AAA-EA genome) are produced and consumed, including urban areas that are mostly sole consumers of bananas. Implementation of this procedure allowed us to capture the heterogeneity in preferences across different population segments. The sample was drawn using a multistage sampling procedure, and stratified into rural and urban consumers. The primary sampling unit (PSU) was the sub-county for rural areas and the division for urban areas. Eleven PSUs were selected: seven in rural areas and four in urban areas. This selection was based on the distribution of the Ugandan population (UBOS, 2006). The secondary sampling unit was the community. At the subcounty/division level, two parishes were randomly selected from each PSU. In each parish, one community was drawn using a systematic random sampling criterion with a random start. Urban communities were sampled from the three main cities (Kampala, Mbarara and Jinja); within each community, households were randomly selected from a current community listing resulting in a total number of 440 households. Survey data was collected in July and August of 2007 using standardized questionnaires through face-to-face interviews. Prior to the interviews, respondents were informed about the various aspects of biotechnology development and associated biosafety regulations, with particular emphasis on GM banana. Data on socioeconomic characteristics of households, household awareness, perceptions and attitudes toward GM crops, as well as the level of consumer trust in various organizations were collected. The list of organizations included: (a) private ones (Uganda National Farmers Federation (UNFFE), Uganda Traders Association (UTA), Consumer Education Trust (CONSENT), food processors, cooperatives, NGOs and Agro-genetic Technologies (AGT)); and (b) public ones (National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO), National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS), Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS), Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), Ministry of Agricultural Animal Industries and Fisheries (MAAIF), National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), Uganda National Council of Science and Technology (UNCST), public extension workers, politicians and local leaders). Consumer attitudes on genetic modification was measured using a Likert five point scale from 1 = strongly disagree to 5 = strongly agree. For our analysis, agree and strongly agree responses were aggregated to one group (‘agree’), disagree and strongly disagree were aggregated to ‘disagree’, and neither agree nor disagree were renamed ‘uncertain’.