Exploring Factors That Influence Perceptions of Using Genomics for Emission Reductions in Beef Cattle

Given the quantity of greenhouse gas emissions resulting from beef production and rising concerns with climate change, genomics have been introduced to facilitate selective breeding for increased feed efficiency in beef cattle as one area of emissions reductions. Public perception is an important consideration in this endeavour. In this study data collected from a survey of 1803 participants from across Canada is analysed and the influence of attitudes and knowledge pertaining to the environment and biotechnologies on the degree of acceptance and relative perceived benefit to human health of this use of genetic technology is examined. Upon grouping respondents into categories of those who oppose, doubt, and support this use of genomics, multinomial logistic regressions are used to determine the factors influencing an opposing or supporting position, relative to doubt, the relatively neutral position. Results suggest that distinct characteristics influence the likelihood of supporting or opposing this use of technology with respect to two different measures of acceptability of the technology - degree of acceptance and relative perceived benefits to human health.