Consumers' Response to "Neonic-Free" and Other Insect Pollinator Promotions on Ornamental Plants

Pollinator insects are essential to world food crop production, the economy, and the environment. Neonicotinoid (neonic) insecticides are facing intense backlash from environmental groups because the systemic protection they provide throughout the plant, including the pollen and nectar, may be inju...

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Main Authors: Hayk Khachatryan, Alicia Rihn
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries 2016-05-01
Series:EDIS
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Online Access:https://journals.flvc.org/edis/article/view/127801
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author Hayk Khachatryan
Alicia Rihn
author_facet Hayk Khachatryan
Alicia Rihn
author_sort Hayk Khachatryan
collection DOAJ
description Pollinator insects are essential to world food crop production, the economy, and the environment. Neonicotinoid (neonic) insecticides are facing intense backlash from environmental groups because the systemic protection they provide throughout the plant, including the pollen and nectar, may be injuring pollinator insects and causing their population decline. But many nursery and greenhouse growers use neonic-based pesticide control measures because they are effective, inexpensive, and cause less environmental damage than other insecticides. The increased publicity may influence consumer demand and preferences but very few studies have investigated consumer responses to neonic-free labels, and evidence suggests that many consumers have little knowledge or awareness of the issue. This 3-page fact sheet describes the results of a study investigating how consumers’ awareness of neonic insecticides influenced their preferences and purchasing behavior for plants and explores the marketing potential of using alternate pollinator promotions (besides neonic-free) in garden center retail outlets. Written by Hayk Khachatryan and Alicia Rihn, and published by the Food and Resource Economics Department, March 2016.
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spelling doaj-art-67e9256b601a4f44bc678f968956bd9a2025-02-08T05:57:34ZengThe University of Florida George A. Smathers LibrariesEDIS2576-00092016-05-0120163Consumers' Response to "Neonic-Free" and Other Insect Pollinator Promotions on Ornamental PlantsHayk Khachatryan0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3103-5236Alicia Rihn1University of FloridaUniversity of Florida Pollinator insects are essential to world food crop production, the economy, and the environment. Neonicotinoid (neonic) insecticides are facing intense backlash from environmental groups because the systemic protection they provide throughout the plant, including the pollen and nectar, may be injuring pollinator insects and causing their population decline. But many nursery and greenhouse growers use neonic-based pesticide control measures because they are effective, inexpensive, and cause less environmental damage than other insecticides. The increased publicity may influence consumer demand and preferences but very few studies have investigated consumer responses to neonic-free labels, and evidence suggests that many consumers have little knowledge or awareness of the issue. This 3-page fact sheet describes the results of a study investigating how consumers’ awareness of neonic insecticides influenced their preferences and purchasing behavior for plants and explores the marketing potential of using alternate pollinator promotions (besides neonic-free) in garden center retail outlets. Written by Hayk Khachatryan and Alicia Rihn, and published by the Food and Resource Economics Department, March 2016. https://journals.flvc.org/edis/article/view/127801Nursery Business ManagementFE991
spellingShingle Hayk Khachatryan
Alicia Rihn
Consumers' Response to "Neonic-Free" and Other Insect Pollinator Promotions on Ornamental Plants
EDIS
Nursery Business Management
FE991
title Consumers' Response to "Neonic-Free" and Other Insect Pollinator Promotions on Ornamental Plants
title_full Consumers' Response to "Neonic-Free" and Other Insect Pollinator Promotions on Ornamental Plants
title_fullStr Consumers' Response to "Neonic-Free" and Other Insect Pollinator Promotions on Ornamental Plants
title_full_unstemmed Consumers' Response to "Neonic-Free" and Other Insect Pollinator Promotions on Ornamental Plants
title_short Consumers' Response to "Neonic-Free" and Other Insect Pollinator Promotions on Ornamental Plants
title_sort consumers response to neonic free and other insect pollinator promotions on ornamental plants
topic Nursery Business Management
FE991
url https://journals.flvc.org/edis/article/view/127801
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