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Teaching about the marketing of GM food in the context of the Japanese economy

This project aims to explore the current state of GM food marketing in Japan, consider the economic implications, and develop new teaching methods for bioethics education in high schools. The procedure involves a non-compulsory project, data collection, observation, and questionnaire-based discussions. The project examines the legal regulations, labeling methods, and materials without labeling obligations. Results indicate a lack of labeled GM food, minimal unlabeled or unclassified food, and a trend towards cheaper prices for non-labeled or unclassified items. Students' reactions reveal varying levels of concern about GM food labeling and price considerations.

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Teaching about the marketing of GM food in the context of the Japanese economy

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  1. Teaching about the marketing of GM food in the context of the Japanese economy Toru Yamashita Higashimurayama Metropolitan high-school

  2. The purpose of this effort 1.To ascertain the present state of marketing of GM foods in Japan. 2.To obtain data for considering GM foods from the standpoint of economics. 3.To devise new methods for teaching bioethics education in high schools.

  3. Procedure of instruction 1.Set a non-compulsory project for presentation during the high school 3rd year “Modern Society” obligatory course 2.Have the submitted project input as an Excel file (one lesson ) 3.The teacher prints the papers during the next lesson. 4.Record on a worksheet any observations made on reading the printed-out data

  4. Procedure 2 5.Have several of the students write their observations recorded in the worksheet on the blackboard ６.Have the students reply to a questionnaire and answer by raising their hands. ７.The teacher explains simply about GM-food. ８.Have the students reply to the questionnaire again.

  5. Legal Regulations in Japan • From April 1,2001 a duty to label transgenic processed food raw material was imposed by the revised Japanese agricultural standards law (the JAS law). • The objects of the law are these agricultural-products: soybean, corn, potato, cotton seed

  6. Labeling Method • 1.When production and distribution has been managed with separation of food classified by type, GM food is labeled as transgenic • 2.When agricultural products not separated by type are used as raw materials labeled as un-classified for GM • 3. When production and distribution has been managed with separation of food classified by type, non-GM food is labeled as non-transgenic .

  7. Materials with no labeling obligation • 1.Processed food containing less than 5% of the raw material in question. • 2.Processed food for which scientific verification cannot be performed,such as soy sauce and oil.

  8. Subject matter of the project 1.The students go to their local supermarkets and observe the labels on the following foods. • Canned corn food • Soy sauce • Fermented soybeans • Bean paste

  9. 2.The state of GM-food use is recorded in a hand-sheet. • GM-food use is recorded as “A”. • Food not separated by type is recorded as “B” • For products with no GM-food use “C” • When there is no display, no entry is made

  10. 3. The following are recorded; Manufacturers name Weight or volume Price Store name

  11. For the subject presenter • 15 points are added to end-of- term grades.

  12. Results of the investigation by students • Candidate students: The total in three third-year classes is 119. • The number of presenters: 53 persons • Survey period: The latter part of November, 2003 • Survey area: The North Tama area of Tokyo Areas along the Chuo and Seibu railway lines

  13. Results 2 • Number of shops surveyed: 43 • Total number of surveyed items: 500 • Canned corn food: 42 • Soy sauce: 62 • Fermented soybeans: 62 • Bean paste: 63 There was no overlapping of surveyed shops, but some of items.

  14. Results of the survey 1.No goods were labeled as GM-food. 2. Very few goods were unlabeled or labeled as un-classified. 3.Even soy sauce for which there is no requirement to label, almost all the foods were in fact labeled. 4.Unlabeled fermented soybeans are only sold at convenience stores.

  15. Results of the survey 5.For corn and soy sauce, a tendency for the price of goods not classified by type or unlabeled to be cheap is seen. 6.There is no significant price spread for bean paste and fermented soybeans between non-GM and other types of food.

  16. The prices of soybeans and Non-GM soybeans at The Tokyo Grain Exchange

  17. Reference data • Carried out by the council on consumers in the Tokyo metropolitan area. • Questionnaire carried out in year 2000. • The number of effective replies: 474 persons • When buying tofu, fermented soybeans, etc. are you concerned about its labeling as “non-GM” etc?

  18. Reply • “If there is not much price difference I’d purchase labeled goods”: 44.1% • “I’d purchase labeled goods regardless of price”: 43.0% • “I’m not particularly worried about labeling”: 12.7%

  19. Contents of interpretation for students made after questionnaire 1.Explanation of Monsanto’s soybean “round-up-lady” (herbicide resistant). 2.By producing this soybean the amount of weed-killer used, and the time and effort required of the farmer are reduced. 3.Resistance of the soybean is limited to Monsanto’s weed-killer.

  20. Contents of interpretation 4.According to the checks made so far, safety has been confirmed . 5.It is not yet known whether it is harmless in the long run.

  21. Reaction to Questionnaire of students 1.Do you look at the label to see whether or not food is GM when buying food from day-to-day?

  22. Reaction 2.If you don’t have to be concerned about price, which would you choose?

  23. Reaction 3.If you have to be careful about price, which would you choose?

  24. Trends in students’ reactions • 1.The number of students who have reservations increases greatly after the explanation. • 2.The number of students who look at the label at the time of food purchase decreases greatly after the explanation.

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