![Sample our Environment & Agriculture journals, sign in here to start your access, latest two full volumes FREE to you for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5934/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Environment-Agriculture.jpg"})
ABSTRACT
Due to changes in legislation, interest in hemp cultivation in the United States (U.S.) has grown in the past five years. Hemp is typically grown for fiber, seeds, or oil, creating significant amounts of cellulosic by-products. To ensure economic viability and environmental sustainability of hemp production, additional uses for these by-products should be identified. Hemp has potential as livestock feed; however, there is a lack of literature on consumers’ perceptions of this practice and on their willingness to purchase the resulting animal food products. The objective of our study was to evaluate U.S. consumers’ perceptions and acceptance of food products from livestock fed hemp. We distributed a survey to U.S. adults (n = 386). Our data demonstrate that consumers overwhelmingly supported growing and feeding hemp to livestock in the U.S. with < 8% opposing either practice. Consumers perceived growing hemp in the U.S. may have economic and environmental advantages, which influences their willingness to purchase food products from animals fed hemp. Most consumers were not familiar with legislation and guidelines surrounding hemp production and many were concerned about exposure to hemp compounds (i.e. cannabinoids) through food. Further research should investigate outreach needed to educate consumers about hemp, especially in the food chain.
摘要
由于立法的变化，在过去五年中，美国对大麻种植的兴趣有所增长. 大麻通常用于生产纤维、种子或油，产生大量的纤维素副产品. 为了确保大麻生产的经济可行性和环境可持续性，应确定这些副产品的额外用途. 大麻具有作为牲畜饲料的潜力; 然而，缺乏关于消费者对这种做法的看法以及他们购买由此产生的动物食品的意愿的文献. 我们研究的目的是评估美国消费者对牲畜饲养的大麻食品的认知和接受程度. 我们向美国成年人（n = 386）进行了一项调查. 我们的数据表明，在美国，绝大多数消费者支持种植大麻并将其喂给牲畜，只有不到8%的人反对这两种做法. 消费者认为在美国种植大麻可能具有经济和环境优势，这影响了他们购买以动物为食的大麻食品的意愿. 大多数消费者不熟悉有关大麻生产的立法和指南，许多人担心通过食物接触大麻化合物（即大麻素）. 进一步的研究应该调查对消费者进行大麻教育所需的外联活动，尤其是在食品链中.
Acknowledgments
The authors acknowledge support from Dr. Nicole Wagner.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Authors Contribution
MD and GH contributed equally to this work, jointly receiving funding, developing the experimental design, analyzing data, and synthesizing the manuscript.
Ethical approval
This study was approved by the Texas State University Institutional Review Board (#8451).
Consent
Informed consent was provided prior to completing the survey and identifiable information was not collected.
Highlights
This research fills a deficit in the literature on consumer perceptions of hemp cultivation and use as a livestock feed in the United States (U.S.), which is of growing interest given recent legislation that relegalizes the growth of hemp in the U.S.
Findings indicate overwhelming consumer support for hemp growth and use as livestock feed in the U.S. while also revealing perceived risks and advantages associated with these practices.
Consumers are largely unfamiliar with regulations surrounding hemp in the U.S. and, thus, education efforts are likely important as hemp enters the food and, potentially, feed chain.