フードチェーンにおける情報ニーズと開示の非対称性

ノンパラメトリック検定による検証

抄録

The purpose of this paper is to confirm the presence of an asymmetry of information needs anddisclosure on the food chain. We assume that the food chain consists of a producer through to aconsumer, as in Shannon's information channel. In addition, the need for information on the food chainis increasing while information disclosure is decreasing. We defined the “information gaps” that ariseas differences between information needs and disclosure regarding the food chain. For thishypothesis, we applied the non-parametric method for individual data, such as the Wilcoxon ranksum and Jonckheere-Terpstra tests. Moreover, we discussed solving these information gaps, thereliability of information sources, and some political implications.
It is clear that information gaps are expanding downstream in the food chain. They function asstrong evidence on food safety information for consumers, particularly in cases of “pesticide residue”and “cultivation method.” The results suggest that upstream actors, such as a producer anddistributor, cannot recognize the information gap for consumers.
To solve these information gaps and take advantage of the traceability system, practicalinformation sharing on the whole food chain is of high importance.