THE IMPACT OF THE COMMERCIALIZATION BAN OF BT EGGPLANT TO THE CONSUMPTION OF EGGPLANT OF AGRICULTURE STUDENTS IN LAGUNA STATE POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY SINILOAN

Bt eggplant is a GMO that contains the Bt gene which makes the plant resistant against pests under the order Lepidoptera. Despite its benefits, its commercialization was banned in the Philippines due to its possible risks. Data was collected from 114 agriculture students in Siniloan, Laguna in order to assess their consumption behavior with relation to the ban, as well as their knowledge and perception on GMOs and Bt eggplant. Results showed that the absence or presence of the commercialization ban did not have a significant effect in terms of consumer behavior. The respondents also has a moderately high knowledge and perception on GMOs and Bt eggplant, but was found to have a minimal relationship with the respondents spending behavior. Therefore, the absence of a change in consumer behavior despite the commercialization ban is likely affected by other factors aside from the knowledge and perception of the respondents on Bt eggplant.