Thesis, Undergraduate (BS Agribusiness Economics)--University of the Philippines, Mindanao

The main objective of the study is to determine the consumers' acceptance towards bt eggplant. The researcher have surveyed selected areas in Davao City specifically in Bago Oshiro, Green Meadows, and Ruby Subdivision in Skyline and classified as low income, and high income class communities respectively. Using contingent valuation, the study considered demographic variables, awareness variables, and attitudinal variables in analyzing every respondent's perception on bt eggplant.In analyzing, these variables, binary logistic regression was used to identify significant variables affecting the decision of each income class and the overall perception. Results of the estimation showed that for the low income class model, there are two significant variables; respondents' believe that bt eggplant would be cheaper or not and gender. In the middle income model, there are four significant variables; household size, respondents' stand on bt eggplant having negative effects or none, knowledge level on biotechnology, and awareness level on the scientific effects of bt gene. In the high income model, respondents' stand on the negative effects of bt eggplant towards the environment and human health and their opinion whether bt eggplant would have potential demand or not were found to be significant. Lastly, in the overall model, results showed that there are three significant variables and two of which are the same with the high income model.The third significant variable is the respondents' awareness on the conflict between the pro and anti bt eggplant groups. The most influential factors affecting consumers' acceptance are gender, knowledge on the scientific effects of bt gene, and respondents' opinion about bt eggplant's potential demand for the low, middle, and hign income model respectively. Overall, respondents' opinion about bt eggplant's potential demand is the major concern of respondents in general. In terms of acceptance level, 60% of the respondents accepted bt eggplant while 40% did not accept it. The findings of the study can serve as an encouragement to further improve the study specifically on information dissemination on the opinions of pro and anti bt eggplant groups for the benefit of consumers who are concerned about food issues.