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CONSERWA

CONSUMER SURVEY
This survey is a part of CONSERWA project, which aims to reduce herbicide usage in food production within the EU. The overall purpose is to replace the use of chemical herbicides with more ecological weeding methods by 2030.


Weeds grow in the same fields as crop plants. Weeds are unwanted and harmful as they consume nutrients, water, and sun light essential for the growth of crop plants. Farmers use different measures to weaken or prevent the growth of weeds.


In this survey we would like to know your opinion on general attitudes towards the environment and food news, different weeding methods and perceived risks, and the labeling of agroecological food products...
1.To what extent do you take into account the environmental impact when buying food?
2.Do you agree with the following statements?
Strongly agree
Somewhat agree
Neither agree nor disagree
Somewhat disagree
Strongly disagree
The balance of nature is very fragile and easily disturbed by human activities.
Planet Earth has limited space and resources.
Plants and animals do not exist primarily for human use.
Environmental modification for human use rarely causes serious environmental problems.
There are no limits to growth for countries like mine.
Humanity was created to rule the rest of nature.
3.How concerned are you about…
Very much
Fairly
A bit
Barely
Absolutely not
… climate change caused by human activity
… animal welfare
… extinction of animals / plants (biodiversity loss)
… World Hunger
… food safety
… economic prosperity
4.What kind of diet do you follow?
5.Do you agree with the following statements?
Never
Seldom
Sometimes
Often
Always
I have complete confidence in novel foods
I try foods, even if I don't know what they contain
I'm curious and eat almost anything
If I hear there's an innovative food available in the store, I'd be quite interested in buying it
I usually prefer innovative foods and flavors over classic food.
Weed removal in the field with an agro-ecological approach aims to maintain system resilience, biodiversity, productivity and human health. Chemical herbicides are not used at all. The agro-ecological approach maintains weed control in the long term and without creating herbicide resistance or adverse effects on treated plants.

Otherwise, the risk of serious weed problems increasing during years. The increased weed pressure can on worst case lead to fields, that are impossible to farm without chemicals. Even a smaller increase in the amount of weeds quickly results in yields being smaller, the risk of losing the yield being higher, and quality suffering. All this can, of course, influence the price.
6.Have you ever heard of agroecological weeding before?
7.After reading the explanation above, what is your first reaction to food grown with agroecological weeding?
8.Regarding the consumption of food produced with agroecological weeding practices...
Definitely yes
Maybe
Not sure
Probably not
Definitely not
Would you be willing to taste food produced with agroecological weeding practices?
Would you be willing to use foods regularly produced with agroecological weeding practices?
There should be a clear packaging label indicating foods produced with agroecological weeding practices
There should be a trustworthy monitoring system for foods produced with agroecological weeding practices (such as organic foods)
I think the people around me would accept if I would eat foods produced with agroecological weeding practices, if they were available in grocery stores
I think the people around me would eat foods produced with agroecological weeding practices, if they were available in grocery stores
9.Would you be willing to pay more for a product grown using agroecological weeding practices?
10.Would you accept the use of following weeding methods?:
Strongly agree
Somewhat agree
Neither agree nor disagree
Somewhat disagree
Strongly disagree
I don't know
Spraying chemical herbicides over the entire field surface, without distinguishing between weeds and crops
Spot spraying in areas where weeds grow
Precise spraying of chemical herbicides only on weeds identified by cameras and artificial intelligence
Mechanical weeding with a tractor-drawn hoe
Permanent soil cover with reduced or no tillage with traditional chemical herbicides
Bioherbicides based on the use of microorganisms or plant-based compounds considered more environmentally friendly than chemical herbicides
Natural herbicides
Hot foam weeding
Flame weeding
Robotic and laser-based weeding
Crop improvement with traditional methods
Use of genetically modified (GMO) technologies to improve crop growth and resistance to weeds
11.Do you agree with the following statements?
Strongly agree
Somewhat agree
Neither agree nor disagree
Somewhat disagree
Strongly disagree
Farmers are experts in food safety
I trust the current food safety regulation in my country
Farmers comply with food safety regulations
Farmers know how to use herbicides correctly
Farmers should be paid more for using agroecological weeding methods
Food chemical monitoring systems are reliable
The benefits of synthetic chemicals in agriculture outweigh the potential risks they pose to the environment.
Traces of chemicals in food is not a risk
The use of synthetic chemicals in agriculture is associated with greater benefits than risks to consumer health.
The environmental risks associated with synthetic chemicals in agriculture are more significant than the benefits for the consumers
The health risks of synthetic chemicals in agriculture are greater than their benefits
12.Do you agree with the following statements?
Strongly agree
Somewhat agree
Neither agree nor disagree
Somewhat disagree
Strongly disagree
I believe that chemical substances are the main reason why people suffer from cancer
I do everything I can to avoid in my daily life contact with chemical substances
I would like to live in a world where chemical substances do not exist
Chemical substances scare me
I believe that chemical substances are the reason for most environmental problems
GENERAL QUESTIONS
13.Country of residence
14.Age
15.Gender
16.How many children live in your household (under 18 years old)?
17.What is your level of education?
18.What is the annual income of your household?
19.Place of usual residence
20.COMMENTS