Source: UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS submitted to
DETERMINING ANTECEDENTS TO CONSUMER ACCEPTANCE OF SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION TO DEVELOP EDUCATIONAL APPROACHES ON GENE-EDITING TECHNOLOGIES
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
ACTIVE
Funding Source
AFRI COMPETITIVE GRANT
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1031357
Grant No.
2018-67023-41281
Cumulative Award Amt.
$52,592.38
Proposal No.
2023-04286
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Jan 1, 2023
Project End Date
Dec 13, 2024
Grant Year
2024
Program Code
[A1642]- AFRI Foundational - Social Implications of Emerging Technologies
Project Director
McFadden, B.
Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
(N/A)
FAYETTEVILLE,AR 72703
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
This is a transfer.
Animal Health Component
35%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
35%
Applied
35%
Developmental
30%
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
60760101080100%
Knowledge Area
607 - Consumer Economics;

Subject Of Investigation
6010 - Individuals;

Field Of Science
1080 - Genetics;
Goals / Objectives
This is a transfer.
Project Methods
Communication videos were recently developed at the University of Florida by Co-PI Stofer. We will test theeffectiveness of the communication videos by collecting another round of survey data.

Progress 01/01/23 to 12/13/24

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience during this reporting period comprised of other academics through the publication of research. We also engaged with U.S. consumers through the final survey of this project. Changes/Problems:There were several changes. McFadden moved from the University of Florida to the University of Delaware and then to the University of Arkansas.Rumblemoved from the University of Florida to the Ohio State University. Also, COVID-19 delayed the progress of this project. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?A total of eight students were co-authors of the peer-reviewed publications (some of them are co-authors on more than one paper), and another student is leading the working paper that will be submitted for publication in 2025. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Yes, through publication and presentations. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The objectives of this project were to: 1) Assess U.S. adult public knowledge and beliefs about regulating and consuming food and ingredients derived from gene-edited crops. 2) Determine how trust, values, and engagement affect the beliefs of various audience segments in the context of gene-edited crops. 3) Develop communication materials and educational approaches for gene editing using information gained from Objective 2 and determine the effectiveness of communication materials that vary by message and medium and appropriate educational approaches. To complete these objectives, we first conducted four focus groups (one in each census region) and then fielded five nationwide surveys. We just completed the fifth survey, and a graduate student at the University of Arkansas is working on drafting a journal article and will present the preliminary results at the Southern Agricultural Economics Association conference in February 2025. Results from the focus group and four other surveys have been communicated through six peer-reviewed publications and several oral/poster presentations at conferences.

Publications

  • Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: McFadden, B.R., Rumble, J.N., Stofer, K.A., Folta, K.M., Turner, S. and Pollack, A., 2021. Gene editing isnt just about food: comments from US focus groups. GM Crops & Food, 12(2), pp.616-626.
  • Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Thiel, R., Bowling, A., Rumble, J., McFadden, B., Stofer, K. and Folta, K., 2022. Impact of teaching methods on learner preferences and knowledge gained when informing adults about gene editing.
  • Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: McFadden, B.R., Rumble, J.N., Stofer, K.A. and Folta, K.M., 2024. US public opinion about the safety of gene editing in the agriculture and medical fields and the amount of evidence needed to improve opinions. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 12, p.1340398.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2023 Citation: What is it About GMOs? Invited Virtual Presentation to the Animal Science Department at the University of California, Davis. February 28, 2022.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2023 Citation: Transitioning consumers from genetic modification to gene editing. 4th Annual Plant Phenotyping and Imaging Research Centre. Invited Presentation at Saskatoon, SK Canada. October 23-24, 2019.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2023 Citation: Determining antecedents to consumer acceptance of scientific information to develop educational approaches on gene-editing technologies. Invited Poster at United States Department of Agriculture Biotechnology Risk Assessment Grants (BRAG) Program & AFRI Social Implications of Emerging Technologies 2018 Annual Project Directors Meeting. Washington DC. May 22, 2018.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2023 Citation: Thiel, R., Bowling, A., & Rumble, J. (2020, June 16-18). A mixed-methods study on teaching methods for andragogy on gene-editing technology. Poster presented at the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture online conference.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2023 Citation: Turner, S., Stofer, K., Rumble, J. N., McFadden, B., Folta, K., Jeevan, A., & Thiel, R. (2021, February). U.S. adults express overall positive views but some concerns about gene editing technology after information treatment. Manuscript presented at the virtual Southern region meeting of the American Association for Agricultural Education online meeting.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2023 Citation: Turner, S., Stofer, K., Rumble, J. N., McFadden, B., Folta, K., Jeevan, A., & Thiel, R. (2021, May 24-27). U.S. adults express overall positive views but some concerns about gene editing technology after information treatment. [Paper presentation]. American Association for Agricultural Education, National Conference, Virtual Conference.


Progress 01/01/23 to 12/31/23

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience during this reporting period comprised of other academics through the publication and presentation of research. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Yes,presented to professionals at the2023 International Society for Biosafety Research Symposium. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The final survey will be distributed and project outcomes will be communicated to other professionals at a small conference covering the projects,

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The final survey for the project was designed. It was piloted in 2024, and data will be collected soon.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: McFadden, B.R., Rumble, J.N., Stofer, K.A., Folta, K.M. and Dyment, M., 2023. US adult attitudes about biotechnology and risk aversion to gene editing. AgBioForum, 25(2), pp.1-12.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: McFadden, B.R., Lusk, J.L., Pollack, A., Rumble, J.N., Stofer, K.A. and Folta, K.M., 2023. A randomized group approach to identifying label effects. Journal of choice modelling, 48, p.100435.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Stofer, K., Turner, S., Rumble, J.N., McFadden, B., Folta, K., Jeevan, A., Ouncap, T., Hecht, K., Cummins, C. and Thiel, R., 2023. US adult viewers of information treatments express overall positive views but some concerns about gene editing technology. Journal of Science Communication, 22(4), p.A02.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2023 Citation: U.S. Public Opinion about the Safety of Gene Editing. 2023 International Society for Biosafety Research Symposium. Invited Plenary Presentation at St. Louis, MO. May 1, 2023.