Genetic modification and genetically modified organisms (GMO) remains a controversial issue. Latvian consumers’ attitude towards genetic modification and GMO have been characterized as negative using Eurobarometer data, but so far no specific investigation of Latvian consumers has been done in this field. The aim of this study was to analyse Latvian consumers’ attitude towards genetic modification and GMO, the subjective and objective knowledge about this questions and acceptability of use of GMO in different application areas. Main task in frame of this research is to summarize different literature and data available to outline some of factors that influence attitudes towards GMO: mainly public subjective and objective knowledge, perception on risk and benefits, and ethical concerns. The survey method was chosen as a tool to collect data and elicit Latvian consumers’ attitude towards use of GMO in different industries. The survey was composed of 18 questions; seven of them have been structured on one to ten-point scale. The survey data of Latvia’s inhabitants (N = 1184) were collected by the telemarketing company from September 2014 until June 2015. To select the units to be included in the sample systematic sampling was applied - every twentieth inhabitant was approached by phone call and invited to answer on survey questions. The results of Latvian consumers’ survey showed that Latvians’ acceptability of genetic modification varies by application area; genetically modified non-food products are more accepted than GM food and feed products. Ethical and moral aspects play essential role among Latvian consumers. Respondents’ subjective and objective knowledge of genetic modification and GMO differs. The findings would be essential to policy makers when designing risk-communication strategies targeting different consumer segments to ensure proper discussion and addressing potential concerns about genetic modification. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.eis.0.10.14628

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拉脱维亚消费者对基因修饰生物的态度和看法的实证研究

基因改造和基因改造生物（GMO）仍然是一个有争议的问题。使用欧洲晴雨表数据，拉脱维亚消费者对基因改造和转基因生物的态度被定为负面，但是到目前为止，在这一领域尚未对拉脱维亚消费者进行具体调查。这项研究的目的是分析拉脱维亚消费者对基因改造和转基因生物的态度，关于该问题的主观和客观知识以及在不同应用领域中使用转基因生物的可接受性。本研究框架的主要任务是总结不同的文献和数据，以概述影响转基因生物态度的一些因素：主要是公众的主观和客观知识，对风险和利益的认识以及道德上的关注。选择该调查方法作为收集数据并激发拉脱维亚消费者对于在不同行业使用转基因生物的态度的工具。该调查由18个问题组成；其中七个已经按1到10分制进行了构建。2014年9月至2015年6月，电话销售公司收集了拉脱维亚居民的调查数据（N = 1184）。为选择样本中要包含的单位，应用了系统抽样-通过电话与每二十个居民进行联系并邀请他们回答调查问题。拉脱维亚消费者的调查结果表明，拉脱维亚人对基因改造的接受程度因应用领域而异。转基因非食品产品比转基因食品和饲料产品更受欢迎。道德和道德方面在拉脱维亚消费者中起着至关重要的作用。受访者对基因改造和GMO的主观和客观知识有所不同。在设计针对不同消费者群体的风险交流策略以确保适当讨论并解决对基因改造的潜在担忧时，这一发现对于决策者而言至关重要。DOI：http：//dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.eis.0.10.14628