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A Canadian national survey on the public perception of biological control

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Abstract

A professionally designed telephone survey was conducted, for the first time in any country, to determine the perception of Canadians to the use of biocontrol as a means of pest management. While only 55% of those contacted considered themselves well versed in biological control, over 80% were interested in the environment and nutrition. Women expressed more concern about food safety than men, while people less than 24 and more than 65 years old were the less concerned. The test group clearly believed that foods produced organically or using biocontrol were safer than those using synthetic insecticides. The survey clearly shows that while biological control is preferred over pesticides, there is still a need to “educate” the general public on biological pest management. It would be of interest to have similar surveys carried out in both developed and developing countries, and also to see whether biocontrol is seen in a more positive light in developed countries where genetically modified plants are not as widely used as in Canada.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Pierre Noreau, of the Centre de recherche en droit public (Université de Montréal), for his input in the initial planning stages of the survey. Support for this project was provided by the Biocontrol Network funded in part by the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada through its Research Networks Grants programme.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N2A 5B7, Canada

    J. N. McNeil

  2. Coop-Adapte, 6830 Avenue du Parc, Bureau 587, Montreal, QC, H3N 1W7, Canada

    P.-A. Cotnoir

  3. Centre de recherche en droit public, Université de Montréal, C.P. 6128, Succursale Centre-ville, Montreal, QC, H3C 3J7, Canada

    T. Leroux

  4. Groupe d’étude des protéines membranaires, Université de Montréal, C.P. 6128, Succursale Centre-ville, Montreal, QC, H3C 3J7, Canada

    R. Laprade & J.-L. Schwartz

  5. Biocontrol Network, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Research Network, Headquarters at the Université de Montréal, C.P. 6128, succursale Centre-ville, Montreal, QC, H3C 3J7, Canada

    J. N. McNeil, T. Leroux, R. Laprade & J.-L. Schwartz

Authors
  1. J. N. McNeil
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  2. P.-A. Cotnoir
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  3. T. Leroux
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  4. R. Laprade
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  5. J.-L. Schwartz
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to J.-L. Schwartz.

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Handling Editor: Dirk Babendreier.

Appendix 1: Questionnaire

Appendix 1: Questionnaire

  1. 1.

    Would you tell me if the following subjects interest you a lot, somewhat, a little, or not at all:

    1. a.

      Nutrition

    2. b.

      Economic issues

    3. c.

      Health issues

    4. d.

      Science and technology

    5. e.

      Environmental issues (the quality of our environment)

  2. 2.

    To keep yourself informed do you use the following media a lot, somewhat, a little or not at all:

    1. a.

      The written media (papers and/or periodicals)

    2. b.

      Electronic media (television and/or radio)

    3. c.

      The internet

  3. 3.

    Do you have a lot, some, little, or no confidence in the following sources to provide reliable information on societal issues:

    1. a.

      Different levels of government

    2. b.

      Environmental organisations

    3. c.

      Journalists

    4. d.

      Consumer associations

    5. e.

      Scientific and technological experts

  4. 4.

    Do you consider the risk associated with the use of the following products to be very high, reasonably high, not so high or really not high:

    1. a.

      Asbestos fibers

    2. b.

      Nuclear reactors

    3. c.

      Fluoridation of drinking water

    4. d.

      X rays

    5. e.

      Pesticides

    6. f.

      Oral contraceptives

    7. g.

      Vaccines

    8. h.

      Tobacco

  5. 5.

    Where do you buy most of the fruits and vegetables that you eat:

    1. a.

      At a supermarket

    2. b.

      At a smaller grocery store

    3. c.

      At a greengrocer (a fruit and vegetable store)

    4. d.

      At a health food store

    5. e.

      At a local public market

    6. f.

      None of the above/Other/Does not buy fruits and vegetables

  6. 6.

    And in the summer do they generally come from:

    1. a.

      A community garden

    2. b.

      Your own garden

    3. c.

      None of the above/Other/Does not buy fruits and vegetables

  7. 7.

    Do you agree totally, agree somewhat, disagree somewhat, or disagree totally with the following opinions:

    1. a.

      The environment is one of the most important issues facing society today

    2. b.

      We should pay a significant amount of money to preserve our environment

    3. c.

      Strict global measures must be taken immediately to halt environmental decline

    4. d.

      Personally, I cannot help to slow down environmental deterioration

    5. e.

      The benefits of overcoming environmental deterioration are not sufficient to warrant the expense involved

    6. f.

      The importance of the environment is frequently exaggerated

  8. 8.

    Do you consider the risks associated with the following products to be very important, somewhat important, of minor importance or of no importance with respect to human nutrition:

    1. a.

      Genetically modified organisms

    2. b.

      Irradiated food

    3. c.

      Pesticide residues

    4. d.

      Bacterial contamination

    5. e.

      Hormones or antibiotics

    6. f.

      Fatty foods

  9. 9.

    Are you totally in favour, somewhat in favour, somewhat against or totally against using the following means of controlling pests (insects, diseases or weeds) that attack food crops:

    1. a.

      Organic farming

    2. b.

      Insects that attack various pest populations, weeds or disease

    3. c.

      Beneficial microbes that attack various pest populations, weeds or disease

    4. d.

      Soap sprays

    5. e.

      Synthetic chemicals like insecticides and herbicides

    6. f.

      Plants that have been genetically modified for resistance to insects, diseases or weeds

    7. g.

      Mechanical means that reduce the probability that pest populations will increase

  10. 10.

    Do you consider yourself to be very well informed, somewhat informed, poorly informed, or very poorly informed on the use of insects and microbes, known as biological agents, to control agricultural pests (insects, diseases or weeds)?

  11. 11.

    Do you agree totally, agree somewhat, disagree somewhat, or disagree totally with the following opinions:

    1. a.

      The use of biological agents for pest control is better than the use of synthetic chemical pesticides

    2. b.

      The use of biological agents for pest control would be more harmful to the environment than the use of synthetic chemical pesticides

    3. c.

      The risk of food being contaminated is less when biological agents for pest control are used rather than synthetic chemical pesticides

    4. d.

      The higher costs associated with the use of biological agents for pest control does not justify their use instead of synthetic chemical pesticides

    5. e.

      I would be wary of eating food where microbes had been used to control pests

    6. f.

      I would rather buy food where the pests had been controlled using biological agents rather than synthetic chemical pesticides

    7. g.

      I would not be willing to pay more for products where the pests had been controlled using biological agents rather than synthetic chemical pesticides

    8. h.

      Special labelling should be used to inform consumers that biological agents were used to control pests of produce they are buying

  12. 12.

    Would you fully trust, trust somewhat, distrust somewhat, or totally distrust the following groups to supervise pest control with biological agents:

    1. a.

      Government agencies

    2. b.

      Pharmaceutical companies

    3. c.

      Agricultural producers

    4. d.

      Scientific experts from University and public laboratories

    5. e.

      Environmental groups

    6. f.

      Consumer associations

  13. 13.

    Are you a member of, or do you participate in the activities of

    1. a.

      A social club (e.g., the Optimists)

    2. b.

      A sports/recreation organisation

    3. c.

      A consumer association or environmental group

    4. d.

      A cultural or artistic organisation (e.g., choir)

    5. e.

      A religious group

    6. f.

      A political party or movement

  14. 14.

    In what year were you born?

  15. 15.

    What is the highest level of education you completed:

    1. a.

      Primary

    2. b.

      Secondary

    3. c.

      College

    4. d.

      University

  16. 16.

    What is your mother tongue (e.g., the first one you learned and still speak):

    1. a.

      English

    2. b.

      French

    3. c.

      Other

  17. 17.

    During the last year have you mainly worked:

    1. a.

      Full time

    2. b.

      Part time

    or have you been:

    1. c.

      Looking for a job

    2. d.

      In school

    3. e.

      Running a household

    4. f.

      Retired

    5. g.

      Not working by choice/Other/Refused to answer

  18. 18.

    Postal code

  19. 19.

    Sex of respondent

    1. a.

      male

    2. b.

      female

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McNeil, J.N., Cotnoir, PA., Leroux, T. et al. A Canadian national survey on the public perception of biological control. BioControl 55, 445–454 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-010-9273-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-010-9273-2

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