article · Food Safety and Health
Genetically modified food crops offer potential food security benefits, yet public acceptance remains contested in Ghana, where food insecurity affects nearly half the population. Using a choice-based conjoint experimental design, research assessed the key determinants influencing the acceptance or rejection of these crops. Safety concerns regarding human consumption, personal health, and environmental impact represent the primary drivers dictating community acceptance. Crop yield and taste also significantly shape public attitudes towards adopting these foods. Furthermore, the country holding the patent strongly influences Ghanaian acceptance levels. To support the appropriate use and commercialisation of genetically modified crops, the findings indicate a requirement for greater public engagement, structured regulations, supportive policies, and shared knowledge creation.
With food insecurity affecting up to half of Ghana's population, understanding public sentiment is vital for managing agricultural innovations. Clarifying that health and environmental safety, alongside practical attributes like taste, drive community attitudes helps policymakers and agricultural bodies design responsive regulatory frameworks and public engagement initiatives that address consumer priorities before introducing new crop technologies.
The findings directly inform biotechnology developers, seed enterprises, and regulatory agencies planning to commercialise genetically modified crops in Ghana. Understanding that market acceptance hinges on proven safety, taste, yield, and patent origin allows technology transfer teams to better tailor product attributes and market entry strategies. As an applied consumer perception study, this work provides early-stage market intelligence indicating that technical performance alone is insufficient for commercial success.
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Abstract Crops produced using recombinant DNA technology have invaluable food security roles but are not broadly accepted. Food insecurity affects between 45% and 50% of the Ghanaian populace, while the debate to adopt, accept, use, and commercialize genetically modified (GM) crops is ongoing. In this study, a choice‐based conjoint experimental design was adopted to investigate factors driving the acceptance or rejection of GM crops in Ghana. Results from average marginal component effect estimation suggest that safety concern is the major driver for accepting or rejecting GM crops. This was further confirmed using predicted probabilities and marginal means estimation of community acceptance especially when it possesses certain attributes. The safer the GM crop is perceived for human consumption, health, and environment, the more likely the Ghanaian populace will accept it. In addition, yield and taste were observed to be other key driving factors to accept GM crops. Importantly, the country of patency was also observed to be a critical driving factor for whether or not a GM crop is accepted in Ghana. There is a need for active and greater engagement with the Ghanaian populace to put proper legislation, regulations, policies, and knowledge co‐creation process to ensure the proper use of GM crops.
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DOI: 10.1002/fsh3.12031
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