The determination of knowledge, attitude and behavior about genetically modified organisms (GMOs) of the students of Kırşehir Ahi Evran University Faculty of Agriculture

Agriculture is a science and art that deals with plant and animal breeding, obtaining, evaluating, processing, storing and marketing both plant and animal based products. This study, aimed to contribute to the literature by determining the knowledge, attitudes and behaviors about genetically modified organisms (GMOs) among the students belonging to different departments of the Faculty of Agriculture of the University. The population of this study was composed of 273 out of 430 students studying in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th (4+) years of the different programmes in the Faculty of Agriculture, of the University during Fall Semester of 2018-2019 academic year. The questionnaire consisted of Personal Information Scale, GMO Food Test, Attitude Scale towards GMO Food and risk perceptions of GMO foods as data collection tools. The results showed that the students of the department of Agricultural Biotechnology had the highest perception about the subject. The perceptions about GDOs gradually reduced among students belonging to other departments. The students of the department of Agricultural economics had the least perception about the subject. Moreover, male students were more informative about the subject compared to female students. It was concluded that educational background and the gender played an important role in understanding the correct.