Positive public attitudes towards agricultural robots
Abstract Robot technologies could lead to radical changes in farming. But what does the public know and think about agricultural robots? Recent experience with other agricultural technologies—such as plant genetic engineering—shows that public perceptions can influence the pace and direction of inno...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2024-07-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-66198-4 |
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| author | Hendrik Hilmar Zeddies Gesa Busch Matin Qaim |
| author_facet | Hendrik Hilmar Zeddies Gesa Busch Matin Qaim |
| author_sort | Hendrik Hilmar Zeddies |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Robot technologies could lead to radical changes in farming. But what does the public know and think about agricultural robots? Recent experience with other agricultural technologies—such as plant genetic engineering—shows that public perceptions can influence the pace and direction of innovation, so understanding perceptions and how they are formed is important. Here, we use representative data from an online survey (n = 2269) to analyze public attitudes towards crop farming robots in Germany—a country where new farming technologies are sometimes seen with skepticism. While less than half of the survey participants are aware of the use of robots in agriculture, general attitudes are mostly positive and the level of interest is high. A framing experiment suggests that the type of information provided influences attitudes. Information about possible environmental benefits increases positive perceptions more than information about possible food security and labor market effects. These insights can help design communication strategies to promote technology acceptance and sustainable innovation in agriculture. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9fae4a0b942f4b45b7de8939c4ca03e1 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-9fae4a0b942f4b45b7de8939c4ca03e12024-12-08T12:30:50ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-07-0114111310.1038/s41598-024-66198-4Positive public attitudes towards agricultural robotsHendrik Hilmar Zeddies0Gesa Busch1Matin Qaim2Center for Development Research (ZEF), University of BonnFood Consumption and Wellbeing, Department of Sustainable Agriculture and Energy Systems, University of Applied Sciences Weihenstephan-TriesdorfCenter for Development Research (ZEF), University of BonnAbstract Robot technologies could lead to radical changes in farming. But what does the public know and think about agricultural robots? Recent experience with other agricultural technologies—such as plant genetic engineering—shows that public perceptions can influence the pace and direction of innovation, so understanding perceptions and how they are formed is important. Here, we use representative data from an online survey (n = 2269) to analyze public attitudes towards crop farming robots in Germany—a country where new farming technologies are sometimes seen with skepticism. While less than half of the survey participants are aware of the use of robots in agriculture, general attitudes are mostly positive and the level of interest is high. A framing experiment suggests that the type of information provided influences attitudes. Information about possible environmental benefits increases positive perceptions more than information about possible food security and labor market effects. These insights can help design communication strategies to promote technology acceptance and sustainable innovation in agriculture.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-66198-4RobotsAgricultureSustainable food systemsTechnology acceptanceFraming |
| spellingShingle | Hendrik Hilmar Zeddies Gesa Busch Matin Qaim Positive public attitudes towards agricultural robots Scientific Reports Robots Agriculture Sustainable food systems Technology acceptance Framing |
| title | Positive public attitudes towards agricultural robots |
| title_full | Positive public attitudes towards agricultural robots |
| title_fullStr | Positive public attitudes towards agricultural robots |
| title_full_unstemmed | Positive public attitudes towards agricultural robots |
| title_short | Positive public attitudes towards agricultural robots |
| title_sort | positive public attitudes towards agricultural robots |
| topic | Robots Agriculture Sustainable food systems Technology acceptance Framing |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-66198-4 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT hendrikhilmarzeddies positivepublicattitudestowardsagriculturalrobots AT gesabusch positivepublicattitudestowardsagriculturalrobots AT matinqaim positivepublicattitudestowardsagriculturalrobots |