Kyoto Environment and Development Seminar #41 (Joint with the 44th Resilience Seminar)

開催概要

• Date & Time: January 9, 2025, Thursday, 15:00-16:30 (JST)
• Language: English
• Holding method: hybrid system (Zoom Web Seminar)
• Venue: Seminar Room, Former Head Office of Forest Research Station, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University (North Campus, No.15) https://www.kyoto-u.ac.jp/en/access/north-campus-map/

Title:

Exploring gender differences in the preferences of biofortified food crops in Nigeria, Rwanda and Zambia

Speaker:

Priscilla Hamukwala (University of Zambia)

Abstract:

Despite the implementation of interventions such as food fortification and pharmaceutical supplementation, the prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies—particularly in Vitamin A, Iron, Zinc, and Iodine—remains a critical public health challenge in sub-Saharan Africa. The most vulnerable populations include children under five and women of reproductive age. In the last decade, advances in conventional plant breeding and biotechnology have enabled scientists to enrich staple food crops that are mainly consumed by the poor with micronutrients- a process known as biofortification (BF).

In contrast to the current measures which have been critiqued for being costly and not effectively reaching out to the rural poor, BF is expected to enable the poor access micronutrients in a less costly way as it targets staple food crops that are widely consumed without requiring significant changes to dietary habits, thus enhancing the likelihood of adoption. However, the novel property of BF may alter intrinsic attributes of the biofortified crops (BFC), which could be unfamiliar to consumers, potentially affecting their acceptance.

Previous research on consumer acceptance, indicate that BFC are generally more likely to be accepted. While staple food crops targeted for biofortification are consumed across demographic groups, it is unclear whether men and women differ in their preferences of these crops. Research suggests that intrinsic changes in staple food crops, such as sensory appeal and other hedonic traits, may elicit varying responses across genders.

This study investigates such gender differences in the acceptance of BFC in Nigeria, Rwanda, and Zambia—three countries where BF initiatives are underway. Using hedonic ratings (subjective preferences) and willingness-to-pay experiments (economic valuation techniques), we explore whether men and women respond differently to acceptance of BFC and attempt to identify factors driving these differences. By addressing these questions, we aim to provide insights for product developers, marketers, and policymakers to design more effective and equitable interventions.

Preliminary results suggest that gender significantly influence both hedonic preferences and willingness-to-pay for BFC, and controlling for gender differences both in the outcome and determinant variables may provide valid estimates of consumer preferences, although the findings varied across three countries. We conclude by presenting an initial perspective on the dimensions of demand for BFC in three sub-Saharan African countries that may vary by gender, and propose gender-specific approaches to alleviating micronutrient deficiencies when using BF as a public health intervention.

申し込み方法

If you want to join this seminar via Zoom, register in advance for this meeting:

https://kyoto-u-edu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJApcemorDgpGdfx140YMns5CIrMEh_uXbT2#/registration

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

本件にかんするお問い合わせ先

Chair: Miura (Division of Natural Resource Economics, Kyoto University)

• miura.ken.3e [at] kyoto-u.ac.jp（* [at] の部分を@に修正してご使用ください）