Attitude and consumption of Bangladeshi professionals toward biotechnological products

Abstract

Background:To expand the biotechnology market, the opinions of professionals toward biotechnological products are highly valuable for the industry personnel, government policy-makers, and others for taking appropriate decision. Bangladesh is considered as a highly potential country for marketing biotechnological products. It is indispensable to know the present status and future potentiality of biotechnological products to develop a demand-driven market in Bangladesh. This study aimed to assess attitude and consumption of professionals working in public and private organizations in Bangladesh toward biotechnological products. Methods:The data were collected by simple random sampling model, while structured questionnaire provided by the researchers. Collected data were analysed by using Chi-square and logistic regression tests.Results: Findings reveal that Bangladeshi professionals have an optimistic viewpoint about biotechnology and its products. However, age and education of the respondents had a significant effect on their attitude towards biotechnological products. The most common biotechnological products used by respondents were genetically modified (GM) soybean oil, antibiotics, skin care cream, stress-resistant hybrid rice and vaccine in Bangladesh. Most of the respondents demonstrated a pessimistic consumption level of biotechnological products that showed a menace toward the progress of biotechnology in Bangladesh. However, none of the socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents had a significant effect on the consumption of biotechnological products, but private-sector respondents had a more sanguine stance to consume biotechnological products compared to public-sector respondents. Conclusion:The favourable attitude and marginal consumption of professional toward biotechnological products reveal that it is important to expand the application of biotechnology to ensure food and nutritional security of Bangladesh. This study includes a limited number of professionals from public and private sectors who have been involved in biotechnological products in Bangladesh. The findings and suggestions for this study might be useful for food producers, industry and food policy makers involved in biotechnological production in Bangladesh.

Knowledge and attitudes toward genetically modified (GM) food among health sciences university students in Karachi, Pakistan

“…The data from Table 2 suggested that more than 60% of the literate participants were aware about GMO and the availability of GM food (Table 2). These results align with previous records where it was observed that 63% of Bangladeshi professionals had a good knowledge regarding GM products (Abdullah et al , 2018). However, despite the worldwide spread of the news regarding the biotechnological products and GMOs, limited knowledge was reported in studies conducted in southwest Iran and New Jersey (Ghasemi et al , 2013; Vecchione et al , 2015).…”

“…Most of the information was received from internet sources followed by academics (Table 1). Similar results were found in certain earlier studies where the electronic media played a stronger role in dispersing the knowledge regarding GMOs (Fritz et al , 2003; Abdullah et al , 2018; Cui and Shoemaker, 2018). Despite the sufficient information regarding GM food, the understanding regarding the GM food was about medium to low.…”

“…Despite the sufficient information regarding GM food, the understanding regarding the GM food was about medium to low. A similar observation was made in Bangladeshi, Zimbabwean and Solvenian professionals as well where a higher percentage was aware about the GMO but not an equivalent number of participants had a good understanding of GMOs (Sorgo and Ambrozis-Dolinsek, 2009; Šorgo and Ambrožič‐Dolinšek, 2010; Abdullah et al , 2018; Chagwena et al , 2019). Certain factors are too considered in this regard such as the limited information delivered by the electronic media along with the biased versions of literate communities working in the sector of biotechnology.…”

“…The scientific advancements with an edge of social concerns are coined as “socio-scientific issue,” which basically covers the social and scientific concerns of Biotechnology and related technologies (Sadler, 2004; Sadler and Zeidler, 2005). Certain studies have been reported in this regard where the knowledge, acceptance and attitude toward the GMOs where the participants can clearly divided as in favor of or against the production, availability and consumption of GMOs (Abdulkadri et al , 2007; Sorgo and Ambrozis-Dolinsek, 2009; Šorgo and Ambrožič‐Dolinšek, 2010; Ghasemi et al , 2013; Amin et al , 2014; Abdullah et al , 2018; Cui and Shoemaker, 2018; Chagwena et al , 2019).…”

Influence of traditional and genetically modified soybeans on the functional status of the excretory system in three generations of laboratory animals

“…The opinion of professionals in the country is valuable in the further acceptance of biotech products in the country. A study on the "Attitude and consumption of Bangladeshi professionals of biotechnological products" by Abdullah et al (2018), reveals that introduction and expansion of biotechnological products in Bangladesh are phenomenal and has been strongly supported by the government. The study confirms that "Bangladesh has successfully introduced a GM food crop, ir brinjal, nationwide without any sensitivity from the consumers, indicating the higher prospects for the expansion of other biotechnological products in Bangladesh" (Abdullah et al, 2018).…”