After the rapid development of material civilization, people with breadth of vision realized on the negative impacts to humans? health and ecology, thus the so- called organic agriculture was boosted. In recent years, the growth rate of global organic market reached 16% ~ 43%, and the organic agriculture became a new trend of the 21st century. Equally, the ecological environment in Taiwan was also damaged after industrialization and economic growth. Therefore, it is an urgent need to solve the relative problems of industrialization through developing the organic agriculture (OA) in Taiwan.
This research tried to analyze the consumption of organic agricultural products (OAP) and the demand for organic teaching (OT) using empirical data from 491 teachers in Taichung County. The Logit model was chosen for empirical study. The results of this research might give the policy suggestions to promote the organic agriculture industry in Taiwan.
The study showed that the average correct rate of recognition to OA was only 61.7%. Regarding to the attitude of OA, the average agreement was as high as 91.3%. In addition, the ratio of monthly consumption for OAP was 61.5%.
Moreover, 92% of the respondents agreed with the need of OT.
Two common factors were found by factor analysis, and the cumulative variance explained reached 68.4%. Logic model pointed out that the respondents?
recognition and attitude had positive effects on consumption of OAP and OT. In addition, some demographic variables had positive effects on consumption of OAP, such as male, religion with Buddhism and Yi Guan Dao, higher family income, and family with over-60-years-old elders. Moreover, some demographic variables had positive effects on OT, such as age (over-30-year-old), religion with Buddhism and Yi Guan Dao, and family with under-12-year-old children.
Based on the results, the study concluded that consumption of OAP might be promoted by extending OA to the main consumers, increasing the recognition and attitude to OA, and strengthening the concept of ethical consumption. Moreover, the demand for OT might be increased by providing teaching materials and experienced activities regarding with OA, planning the teaching courses regarding with OAP, and learning the OT through meetings and discussion.
