Does Consumer Awareness of Neonicotinoid Insecticides Influence Their Preferences for Plants?

Abstract

<jats:p>Consumer awareness of neonicotinoid (neonic) insecticides is growing (in part) due to increased publicity and media attention. Environmental groups want neonic insecticides to be banned because of their perceived potential negative consequences on nontarget species (especially bees and other pollinator insects). Several retail outlets and governmental agencies are now requiring the ornamental horticulture industry (hereafter, green industry) to label plants grown using neonic insecticides. Although the scientific value of the mandatory labeling policies are debatable, neonic labeling may negatively influence consumers’ demand for plants. Research on consumers’ awareness of neonic insecticides is limited, and the extent to which awareness influences preferences and shopping behavior is less understood. This manuscript addresses these research gaps by investigating correlations between awareness of neonic insecticides, knowledge about related topics (e.g., gardening and pollinator insect health), and purchase likelihood, using an online survey of 921 U.S. consumers. Results indicate that only 24% of surveyed plant purchasers are aware of neonic insecticides. Consumers who are aware of neonic insecticides are more knowledgeable about plants that improve pollinator health and entomology than those who are not aware. Labels with “neonic-free” wording were the least preferred and influential pollinator-related in-store promotion. However, awareness of neonic insecticides was positively correlated with consumers’ purchase likelihood for “neonic-free” plants. Overall, awareness influences consumers’ shopping behavior, which could necessitate altering green industry pest management strategies as consumers’ awareness of neonic insecticides increases due to the negative publicity surrounding it.</jats:p>

Declines in insect abundance and diversity: We know enough to act now

“…In Canada, Ontario and Nova Scotia have legislation that significantly reduces cosmetic pesticide exposure (Canadian Cancer Society, 2013). Retail companies should be required to clearly label pesticide products with information on how they might impact nontarget insects (Rihn & Khachatryan, 2016). Subnational policies to conserve insects (Hall & Steiner, 2019) can be enacted before national policies or international agreements are achieved.…”

Visual Attention to Eco-Labels Predicts Consumer Preferences for Pollinator Friendly Plants

“…Despite the importance of pollinator insects, very few studies investigate consumer preferences for pollinator-friendly products but instead focus on the value of pollinator services and/or conservation efforts [17][18][19][20][21]. In 2008, UK households were willing to pay 1.37 pounds sterling per week (cumulatively 1.77 billion pounds sterling per year or roughly 3.5 billion USD) to protect bees [19].…”

Peer Review #1 of "Garden centre customer attitudes to pollinators and pollinator-friendly planting (v0.1)"

“…Positive attitudes towards pollinators and pollinator-friendly plants is likely to influence consumer behaviour (eg. Wollaeger, Getter & Behe, 2015;Rihn & Khachatryan, 2016). This may explain why, in our study, 96% of questionnaire respondents answered that they would ('yes' 64%; 'maybe' 32%) be more inclined to buy a plant if it had a 'pollinator-friendly' label (Fig 3 b).…”

“…Concern for the status of pollinators may also have added to reported feelings of happiness associated with seeing them in their outside area, since humans disproportionately value rarity, which has been linked to increased interest in rare and threatened animal species (Angulo & Courchamp, 2009). Manuscript to be reviewed significantly more likely to buy plants labelled 'neonic-free' than those who were not aware (Rihn & Khachatryan, 2016). A taste for sustainable products has been identified as a major socio-cultural driver in the garden centre retail industry by the Horticultural Trade Association (HTA).…”