An international comparative study on consumer preferences for foods applying genome editing technology.

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20H03083
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 41010:Agricultural and food economics-related
• Research Institution: University of Tsukuba
• Principal Investigator: Ujiie Kiyokazu 筑波大学, 生命環境系, 准教授 (30401714)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 津田 麻衣 筑波大学, 生命環境系, 助教 (20767511) ; 小野 洋 日本大学, 生物資源科学部, 教授 (40446480) ; 岩本 博幸 帯広畜産大学, 畜産学部, 准教授 (90377127)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: ゲノム編集 / 消費者選好分析 / 国際比較研究

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Genome editing technology, a rapidly advancing gene modification technique since around 2013, has reached the practical application stage in research on its use in food as a breeding technology. Countries worldwide are also solidifying their safety regulatory policies for genome-edited foods, and in Japan, a policy was established in 2019 that does not impose special safety regulations. However, given that this technology involves artificial manipulation of genes, social debate remains fervent.

This study aims to provide foundational insights for the optimal safety regulation system and science and technology communication regarding genome editing technology. To achieve this, we conducted an international, large-scale consumer preference survey on genome-edited foods and performed an analysis based on economic theory.

Free Research Field

食料消費分析

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

既往研究を整理するとともに、有識者や実務者に対するヒアリング調査を行いゲノム編集の食品への応用についての論点を整理した。また、ゲノム編集による付加される新規便益の事例として、シェリフタイムの長期化に対する評価を経済実験により分析した。日本ならびに米国の市民を対象に、（1）商品として新品種を購入するケースと（2）品種開発プロジェクトを支援するケースに対して、消費者評価分析による比較研究をおこなった。