PRO Customer Willingness – Argument: Consumers will not object to the consumption of GMO products current studies – are flawed for various reasons and do not account for the relationship between lower cost and willingness to buy GMOs. Current surveys situate the consumer as when answering questions rather Warrant: “society” than as individuals, and therefore do not reflect actual willingness-to-pay. Additionally, surveys do not account for increased willingness as a result to buy GMOs because of cost decreases. Noussair, Charles. Consumers Really Refuse to Buy Genetically Modified Food?” “Do The Royal Economic Journal. The Economic Journal. Vol. 114. No. 492. (Jan. 2004). pp. 102-120. elicit willingness-to-pay information for similar food products that differ only “We in their content of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Participants in the experiment are a demographically representative sample of French consumers. 35% of participants are unwilling to purchase products made with GMOs, 23% are indifferent or value the presence of GMOs, and 42% are willing to purchase them if they are sufficiently inexpensive. The results contrast with surveys that indicate overwhelming opposition to GM foods. There is a surplus to be gained from the segregation of the market for food products into a GMO-free segment and a segment allowing GMOs.” Warrant: There are several independent reasons to disregard studies suggesting broad opposition to GMOs. Noussair, Charles. Consumers Really Refuse to Buy Genetically Modified Food?” “Do The Royal Economic Journal. The Economic Journal. Vol. 114. No. 492. (Jan. 2004). pp. 102-120. there is reason to question whether the anti-GMO sentiment expressed in “However, surveys would be reflected in actual purchase behaviour. It is known that individuals'
PRO – Customer Willingness Argument: Consumers will not object to the consumption of GMO products – current studies are flawed for various reasons and do not account for the relationship between lower cost and willingness to buy GMOs. Warrant: Current surveys situate the consumer as “society” when answering questions rather than as individuals, and therefore do not reflect actual willingness-to-pay. Additionally, surveys do not account for increased willingness as a result to buy GMOs because of cost decreases. Noussair, Charles. “Do Consumers Really Refuse to Buy Genetically Modified Food?” The Royal Economic Journal. The Economic Journal. Vol. 114. No. 492. (Jan. 2004). pp. 102-120. “We elicit willingness-to-pay information for similar food products that differ only in their content of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Participants in the experiment are a demographically representative sample of French consumers. 35% of participants are unwilling to purchase products made with GMOs, 23% are indifferent or value the presence of GMOs, and 42% are willing to purchase them if they are sufficiently inexpensive. The results contrast with surveys that indicate overwhelming opposition to GM foods. There is a surplus to be gained from the segregation of the market for food products into a GMO-free segment and a segment allowing GMOs.” Warrant: There are several independent reasons to disregard studies suggesting broad opposition to GMOs. Noussair, Charles. “Do Consumers Really Refuse to Buy Genetically Modified Food?” The Royal Economic Journal. The Economic Journal. Vol. 114. No. 492. (Jan. 2004). pp. 102-120. “However, there is reason to question whether the anti-GMO sentiment expressed in surveys would be reflected in actual purchase behaviour. It is known that individuals'