Submitted by Mario BC (mario@bc.ufrpe.br) on 2016-06-30T15:37:23Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Robson Luis Trindade Lustosa.pdf: 1506719 bytes, checksum: 6602206522f8c010d5d7bd2458458293 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-30T15:37:23Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Robson Luis Trindade Lustosa.pdf: 1506719 bytes, checksum: 6602206522f8c010d5d7bd2458458293 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-08-27 / Packaging plays an important role in the maintenance and determination of the quality and shelf life of food. There is increasing development of biodegradable polymer and edible packaging considering environmental concerns. Nanotechnology opportunities the generation and developing of edible films due to their mechanical properties, barrier and antimicrobial improvement. Resistance to innovation is largely influenced as much by perception of risk as by consumers' level of knowledge about the new technology, matters which affect the acceptability of new products and can cause resistance by the consumer attitudes. Despite the application of nanotechnology by the food industry, it could occurs the rejection by the consumer because the perception of the possible human health and environmental risks. Consumer has revealed important role in the consolidation of these technologies through the judgment and acceptance of new products, determining therefore its success or commercial failure. Thus, the present study aims to evaluate consumer perceptions regarding the acceptability of edible packaging nanostructured based on chitosan by consumers in the city of Recife (PE). The study presented in article 1 the consumer perceptions regarding the acceptability of edible packaging nanostructured from a Survey questionnaire with 5-point Likert scale performed with 361 consumers. The effects of sociodemographic variables on consumers' perceptions were analyzed using nonparametric tests (Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney, Kruskal Wallis and Gamma of Goodman-Kruskal). The purchase intention was evaluated considering the effect of perceptions of benefits and risks on consumer attitudes (Wilcoxon test) at 95% confidence. Variables such as age, education and income caused varying effects with respect to perceptions of risks and benefits. Results demonstrated that consumers, while having little knowledge of nanotechnology, have shown great interest in the use of this new technology in the development of food packaging. Benefits of perceptions showed significant effect (p <0.05) acceptance and purchase of food products and packaging with nanotechnology use compared to the risk perceptions. Article 2 presents the study of nanotechnology acceptance through focus group conducted with eight (8) individuals in two different modes driving the focus groups according to exposure benefits and risks of nanotechnology in food and food packaging. Data obtained from focus group method were analysed from the thematic-categorical content analysis of transcribed speech of respondents. Results obtained in focus group discussions showed a complex web of parameters involved with the acceptance of edible packaging using nanotechnology, how perceptions of risks and benefits, concerns about the effects of nanoparticles on living organisms and the environment , confidence in the different stakeholders involved in the development of science and new technologies. In both studies, communication and information about nanotechnology have been identified as important factor for the acquisition and willingness-to-pay for food products coated with nanostructured edible packaging. / A embalagem desempenha um papel importante na manutenção e determinação da qualidade e da vida de prateleira dos alimentos. Há o desenvolvimento crescente de embalagens poliméricas biodegradáveis e comestíveis haja vista preocupações com o meio ambiente. A nanotecnologia possibilita a geração e o desenvolvimento de filmes comestíveis aprimorando suas propriedades mecânicas, de barreira e antimicrobianas. A resistência à inovação é largamente influenciada tanto pela percepção de riscos quanto pelo nível de conhecimento do consumidor sobre a nova tecnologia, elementos estes que afetam a aceitabilidade de novos produtos e que podem provocar atitudes de resistências pelo consumidor. Apesar da aplicação da nanotecnologia pelas indústrias de alimentos, ocorre a rejeição por parte do consumidor frente à percepção dos possíveis riscos à saúde humana e ao meio ambiente. O consumidor tem revelado importante papel na consolidação destas tecnologias através do julgamento e da aceitação dos novos produtos, determinando, pois, seu sucesso ou fracasso comercial. Assim, a presente pesquisa tem como objetivo avaliar a percepção do consumidor quanto à aceitabilidade de embalagem comestível nanoestruturada à base de quitosana por consumidores da cidade do Recife (PE). O estudo apresentado no artigo 1 verificou a percepção do consumidor quanto à aceitabilidade de embalagens comestíveis nanoestruturadas a partir de pesquisa Survey com questionário composto de escala Likert de 5 pontos realizada com 361 consumidores. Os efeitos das variáveis sociodemográficas sobre as percepções dos consumidores foram analisados através de testes não paramétricos (Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney, Kruskal Wallis e Gamma de Goodman-Kruskal). A intenção de compra foi avaliada considerando o efeito das percepções de benefícios e riscos sobre as atitudes do consumidor (teste de Wilcoxon) ao nível de 95% de confiança. Variáveis como idade, escolaridade e renda provocaram efeitos variados no que concerne às percepções de riscos e benefícios. Os resultados demonstraram que os consumidores, embora possuam pouco conhecimento acerca da nanotecnologia, demonstraram elevado interesse quanto ao uso desta nova tecnologia no desenvolvimento de embalagens para alimentos. As percepções de benefícios demonstraram efeito significativo (p<0,05) na aceitação e aquisição de produtos alimentares e embalagens com uso de nanotecnologia comparada com as percepções de riscos. O artigo 2 apresenta o estudo da aceitação da nanotecnologia através de grupo focal realizado com oito (8) indivíduos, em duas modalidades distintas de condução do grupo focal segundo a exposição de benefícios e riscos da nanotecnologia em alimentos e embalagens para alimentos. Os dados obtidos através do método de grupo focal foram inferenciados a partir da análise de conteúdo temático-categorial das falas transcritas dos respondentes. Os resultados obtidos nas discussões realizadas nos grupos focais apresentaram uma teia complexa de parâmetros envolvidos com a aceitação de embalagens comestíveis com uso de nanotecnologia, como as percepções de riscos e de benefícios, as preocupações quanto aos efeitos das nanopartículas nos organismos vivos e no meio ambiente, confiança nos diferentes stakeholders envolvidos com o desenvolvimento da ciência e de novas tecnologias. Em ambos os estudos, a comunicação e informação acerca da nanotecnologia foram apontadas como fator de importância para a aquisição e intenção de compra de produtos alimentares revestidos por embalagens comestíveis nanoestruturadas.

Scientific research, technological development, and commercialisation are processes through which new technologies continually emerge and enter markets. Nanotechnology is an example of an emergent technology (or rather a suite of technologies) which promises to open up a universe of possibilities for the development of new products and processes. Advocates of the technology argue that nanotechnology has the potential to spur economic development while at the same time offering partial solutions to many of the grand challenges of our times such as alleviating hunger, providing new energy sources, reducing climate change, curing diseases, etc. However, alongside these optimistic views, there are also fears and apprehensions concerning the safe and ethical development of nanotechnologies, including the need to address potential negative impacts on the natural environment and human health and safety. The food and food packaging area has shown itself to be a particularly sensitive sector in this respect where the potential for nanoparticles to enter the human body has enhanced the sensitivity of the industry to public concern. The past has shown that any changes or modifications made to food have resulted in public backlash (e.g. GM foods). Due to this some parts of the food and packaging industry remain cautious about making transparent their use of nanotechnologies in their products and processes. However, simultaneously pressure is mounting from regulatory agencies, and from some activists, to pursue the safe and 'responsible' development of nanotechnologies (whatever that may be) as an ethical obligation. The use of nanotechnologies in food and food packaging has become increasingly complex because of its introduction at various points in the food chain, giving rise to debates as to "who is responsible". As a contribution to the debate on what constitutes the 'responsible' governance of new/emergent technologies, this thesis investigates the governance of nanotechnologies and the idea of 'responsibility' and 'responsible innovation' through the lens of perspectives of different actors within the nanotech food chain. A qualitative research methodology was used where semi-structured interviews were conducted with a heterogeneous group of actors with a particular focus on the food and food packaging sectors. Research in comparative national settings (Canada and India) was conducted on the grounds that regulation of nanotechnologies differs significantly across OECD and non-OECD countries, and where the global debate on nanotechnologies is organised and dominated by OECD countries. Findings from this thesis showed that the set of critical elements, such as health and safety, that are put forward by such OECD countries like Canada for the 'responsible' development of nanotechnologies are not the same as that found in India and are seen to differ. In India, meeting the grand challenges of society such as food security, clean drinking water and alleviating poverty take precedent over other elements, where science, technology (such as nanotechnologies) and innovation are harnessed by entrepreneurs, and small and large firms to solve these national problems. However, while I began the study with the intention of comparing two national territories with different regulatory settings, the study also found a case of collaborative Canada-India transnational research network where 'responsibility' is influenced through certain funding criteria set by the more dominant partner, Canada. This suggests the return of public intervention by dominant OECD countries in pro-actively shaping R&amp;D processes that are influencing the 'responsible' development of nano-products in such emerging markets, where there is a potential for future trade associations.

Il lavoro di ricerca ha a oggetto l’analisi del modello europeo (UE) di regolamentazione delle nanotecnologie nel settore agroalimentare, con riferimento agli aspetti etico-giuridici e sociali, ai fini della definizione del quadro normativo di riferimento nella sua relazione con la dimensione di complessità e incertezza intrinseca nel sapere scientifico-tecnologico. La prospettiva teorica da cui muove l’analisi è la co-produzione tra i linguaggi della scienza e del diritto proposta dagli STS (Science & Technologies Studies). Partendo dalla descrizione degli aspetti scientifici dei nanomateriali e delle applicazioni nanotecnologiche nel settore alimentare, il lavoro analizza, in primo luogo, le problematiche correlate alle procedure di gestione del rischio – dalle prospettive più riduzionistiche della cd. “scienza del rischio” nell'innovazione alle più complesse modalità di valutazione integrata del rischio. L’indagine s’incentra, quindi, sulle forme che la normazione sta assumendo nell'intreccio con i saperi delle nanotecnologie, attraverso un approccio comparatistico delle esperienze normative europea e statunitense. L’ultima parte del lavoro s’indirizza, infine, all’analisi delle esigenze di democraticità sottese alle suddette scelte scientifico-giuridiche, problematizzando il concetto di governance anticipatoria e responsabile delle nanotecnologie (concetto correlato all’idea di riuscire a guidare i processi di innovazione attivamente), alla luce del rapporto tra conoscenze scientifiche, politiche agroalimentari e diritto. / In recent decades technoscientific innovation has pushed the food boundaries to a new frontier of nanofood. Such a term refers to an array of food products, whose processes of growing, production and packaging involve nanoscale (nanotechnology and nanosciences) knowledges and applications. This research focuses on the analysis of the European (EU) regulatory framework in the field of agrofood nanotechnology. The analysis considers the salient features of emerging applications of nanotechnologies in the agrofood sector and compares the legal framework on nanofood in the EU with the USA’s regulatory approach. It also develops an interpretation of the normative evolution in the EU, by trying to understand what is the role of science in governing technological risks in nanofood safety, and assessing how adequate the regulatory instruments are in achieving the goal of responsible research and innovation as proposed within the process of rethinking European governance.