Willingness to pay for non-biotech foods in the US and UK

This study uses closed-ended and payment card formats to elicit willingness to pay for breakfast cereals made from non-biotech ingredients. U.S. consumers were willing to pay a 10%similar to12% premium to avoid biotech breakfast cereals, whereas U.K. consumers were willing to pay a 19%similar to35% premium. Risk perceptions about agrobiotechnology proved to be an important factor shaping willingness to pay a premium for non-biotech breakfast cereals. If consumers perceived risks to human health or environments from the use of biotechnology in crop/food production, or affiliated biotech foods unfavorably with morality or multinational corporations, they were more likely to pay a premium. Conversely, if consumers associated agrobiotechnology with various benefits (i.e., reduction in chemical use in crop production, mitigation of world food shortages, and improved nutritional content), they were less likely to pay a premium.