How can the unnaturalness of cellular agricultural products be familiarized?: Modeling public attitudes toward cultured meats in Japan
IntroductionThis study aims to clarify how the unnaturalness of cellular agricultural products can be familiarized to society, using the case of the Japanese public's receptivity to cultured meats. Perceived unnaturalness is a key factor in the rejection of emerging technologies. While past stu...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2023.1129868/full |
| _version_ | 1797900487460126720 |
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| author | Aiko Hibino Futoshi Nakamura Mai Furuhashi Mai Furuhashi Shoji Takeuchi Shoji Takeuchi |
| author_facet | Aiko Hibino Futoshi Nakamura Mai Furuhashi Mai Furuhashi Shoji Takeuchi Shoji Takeuchi |
| author_sort | Aiko Hibino |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionThis study aims to clarify how the unnaturalness of cellular agricultural products can be familiarized to society, using the case of the Japanese public's receptivity to cultured meats. Perceived unnaturalness is a key factor in the rejection of emerging technologies. While past studies have examined the explanatory factors involved in the public acceptance of cultured meats, the relationships among multiple factors have not been fully examined. Cultured meats and cellular agricultural products have been positively evaluated because they can contribute to future food sustainability, so the trade-off between perceived unnaturalness and sustainability is a significant issue for the public.MethodThis study uses a questionnaire survey with 2,000 Japanese respondents, which was conducted in 2019. Using a categorical data analysis approach, the strongest explanatory factors for receptivity were comprehensively searched among attitudes toward cultured meats, eating habits, demographics, and so on.Results and discussionThe results indicated that perceived unnaturalness showed a strong explanatory power for the rejection of cultured meats, but awareness of world famine problems increased acceptance of cultured meat, if the degree of the respondents' concern for unnaturalness was moderate. The perceived animacy of non-human life forms is also associated with acceptance of cultured meat, which may reflect Japanese cultural values. These results suggest multiple pathways to overcoming the disgust of new food technologies in the social implementation process. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T08:45:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-59f784ec3cb14efb8ee7291bfe940538 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2571-581X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T08:45:46Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems |
| spelling | doaj.art-59f784ec3cb14efb8ee7291bfe9405382023-02-22T07:51:28ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems2571-581X2023-02-01710.3389/fsufs.2023.11298681129868How can the unnaturalness of cellular agricultural products be familiarized?: Modeling public attitudes toward cultured meats in JapanAiko Hibino0Futoshi Nakamura1Mai Furuhashi2Mai Furuhashi3Shoji Takeuchi4Shoji Takeuchi5Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Hirosaki University, Hirosaki, JapanGlobal Innovation Center, Nissin Foods Holdings Co., Ltd., Tokyo, JapanGlobal Innovation Center, Nissin Foods Holdings Co., Ltd., Tokyo, JapanInstitute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, JapanInstitute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, JapanGraduate School of Information Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, JapanIntroductionThis study aims to clarify how the unnaturalness of cellular agricultural products can be familiarized to society, using the case of the Japanese public's receptivity to cultured meats. Perceived unnaturalness is a key factor in the rejection of emerging technologies. While past studies have examined the explanatory factors involved in the public acceptance of cultured meats, the relationships among multiple factors have not been fully examined. Cultured meats and cellular agricultural products have been positively evaluated because they can contribute to future food sustainability, so the trade-off between perceived unnaturalness and sustainability is a significant issue for the public.MethodThis study uses a questionnaire survey with 2,000 Japanese respondents, which was conducted in 2019. Using a categorical data analysis approach, the strongest explanatory factors for receptivity were comprehensively searched among attitudes toward cultured meats, eating habits, demographics, and so on.Results and discussionThe results indicated that perceived unnaturalness showed a strong explanatory power for the rejection of cultured meats, but awareness of world famine problems increased acceptance of cultured meat, if the degree of the respondents' concern for unnaturalness was moderate. The perceived animacy of non-human life forms is also associated with acceptance of cultured meat, which may reflect Japanese cultural values. These results suggest multiple pathways to overcoming the disgust of new food technologies in the social implementation process.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2023.1129868/fullperceived unnaturalnesscategorical data analysisanimacyJapancultural implicationsemerging technologies |
| spellingShingle | Aiko Hibino Futoshi Nakamura Mai Furuhashi Mai Furuhashi Shoji Takeuchi Shoji Takeuchi How can the unnaturalness of cellular agricultural products be familiarized?: Modeling public attitudes toward cultured meats in Japan Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems perceived unnaturalness categorical data analysis animacy Japan cultural implications emerging technologies |
| title | How can the unnaturalness of cellular agricultural products be familiarized?: Modeling public attitudes toward cultured meats in Japan |
| title_full | How can the unnaturalness of cellular agricultural products be familiarized?: Modeling public attitudes toward cultured meats in Japan |
| title_fullStr | How can the unnaturalness of cellular agricultural products be familiarized?: Modeling public attitudes toward cultured meats in Japan |
| title_full_unstemmed | How can the unnaturalness of cellular agricultural products be familiarized?: Modeling public attitudes toward cultured meats in Japan |
| title_short | How can the unnaturalness of cellular agricultural products be familiarized?: Modeling public attitudes toward cultured meats in Japan |
| title_sort | how can the unnaturalness of cellular agricultural products be familiarized modeling public attitudes toward cultured meats in japan |
| topic | perceived unnaturalness categorical data analysis animacy Japan cultural implications emerging technologies |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2023.1129868/full |
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