下水汚泥肥料の使用を消費者は受容するのか

―肥料の用途と農産物購入に着目して―

抄録

Consumer acceptance is an important factor in expanding the application of sewage-sludge fertilizer. This study investigates consumer acceptance of the agricultural use of sewage-sludge fertilizer and purchase intention for products grown using it. Based on data from an online survey of 1,860 consumers nationwide, we employed a generalized ordered logit model for analysis. The findings reveal that public awareness of sewage-sludge fertilizer is markedly lower than that of conventional fertilizers and is frequently associated with negative perceptions. Crucially, higher consumer acceptance of its agricultural use significantly strengthens the purchase intention for the resulting agricultural products. We conclude that initiatives aimed at enhancing consumer acceptance are important for the widespread dissemination of sewage-sludge fertilizer.