創新技術採用之影響因素研究──以香蕉生產者之知識累積與資訊取得為例

Determinants of Biotechnology Adoption: The Case of Genetically-Modified Seeds in Taiwan

本研究嘗試將生產者之知識累積與資訊取得納入基轉技術採用行為的分析之中，並檢視影響其採用行為的主要因素。實證結果顯示，資訊取得對於技術採用之影響隨著資訊取得來源之不同而有所不同，農民若自社會網絡取得新技術的資訊，則其採用基轉技術的意願或機率較高。在本文之實證模型設定下，影響資訊取得之因素可能直接或間接的影響技術的採用，我們並以農民之年齡代表其一般農業知識的累積，而以種植該種作物的時間代表其農作專業知識的累積。結果顯示，隨著農民年齡的增長，其一般農作的經驗雖然會增加，但較年輕而缺乏農作經驗的農民有可能由於進行長期的規劃，因此較有可能採用新的技術，而農作專業知識資本累積對於技術採用率的影響，則由於直接效果與間接效果的方向相反，無法判定總效果之影響方向。此外，本研究的實證結果亦說明基轉作物的抗病性技術特性以及增加作物風味的產品屬性也是顯著影響技術採用率的重要因素。

This study presents an integrated analysis of the effects of knowledgeaccumulation, information acquisition, as well as technology/product attributes onfarmers’ adoption of genetically-modified (GM) banana seeds in Taiwan. It isfound that information acquired through social network such as media, internetand friends provides a positive incentive to producers’ adoption of the GM seeds.Consistent with literature on technology adoption, education enhancing producers’managerial ability increases the probability of adoption of GM seeds; however, theeffect of farming experience on the adoption probability does not work in a decisivedirection. Our results suggest younger and less experienced farmers are morelong-term-planning oriented and thus incline to adopting GM technology. Finally,the disease-resistant technology trait and flavor-enriching product attribute of GMbananas are also found to be important determinants that might impact theadoption rate of GM seeds in Taiwan.