Organic Food Consumption in UAE: A Study

Throughout the world, organic farming is viewed as a green revolution because it is ecosystem-friendly, and it as well encourages the use of renewable resources. The title of the journal is appropriate since it explicitly defines the focus of the research. The study is designed to explore the level of organic food consumption in the United Arab Emirates. The research title is appropriate since it addresses the primary question of the study, which is to evaluate the consumption of organic foods (Al-Taie et al., 2015). It also defines the scope of the study, allowing students and other parties interested in having a better understanding of the results.

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The problem statement of this study is not clearly stated. The use and consumption of conventional foods have been the trend since time immemorial. The introduction of organic farming and organic food consumption has generated both financial, health, and environmental benefits. Although not a common trend, the study is designed to examine how organic food consumption is viewed and being implemented in the United Arab Emirates (Al-Taie et al., 2015). Organic foods are environmentally friendly as well as beneficial to the human body since chemicals such as fertilizers are not used during cultivation. The study does not include a review of the literature.

The study employed a cross-sectional research design, conducted between October and December 2013. A questionnaire with closed-end interview questions with different designs and formats was developed. It had two parts; one for demographic features of the research respondents and the other explaining the different viewpoints and opinions on organic foods. The questionnaire contained three variables, namely; social, environmental, and health factors (Al-Taie et al., 2015). The methods of research used to conduct this research study are quantitative. The research used a sample of the United Arab Emirates population to study the consumption of organic products in the country. A random sampling technique was used, and 500 questionnaires were distributed around major cities in the country (Al-Taie et al., 2015).

The objectives of the study include; determine the degree of organic food usage in the United Arab Emirates, evaluate the user's perception of the impacts of organic food consumption on both the environment and human health, and examine the forces that hinder the use of organic foods. Also, the study clearly states the research questions that were used to solve the problem statement of the study. The research questions of the study include; 1. To what extent do respondents prefer organic foods to conventional foods? (Al-Taie et al., 2015) 2. What is the respondents' view on the impacts of organic food on the environment and human health? 3. Factors that deter or limit organic food consumption in the UAE? 4. What can be done to enhance consumer perception of organic food consumption in the UAE? (Al-Taie et al., 2015)

Some probable sources of errors that may impact the results of this study exist. Response errors may come up during the process of data collection. This error arises when research subjects give false and inaccurate responses to the questions. A non-responsive error may as well come up. It occurs when a segment of the research respondents included in the sample size fails to respond to the questionnaire. Measures to address these challenges if they occur are not highlighted in the study.

The study used a descriptive data analysis technique to analyze the results and findings. This technique of data analysis used numerical averages, midpoints, most common values, highest and lowest values, ratios, and the number of occurrences to explain the extent of organic food consumption in the UAE. Study results were presented in figures and tables. According to the respondents of this study, 88.6% had consumed organic foods, and 83.9% of them differentiated conventional from organic foods (Al-Taie et al., 2015). 60.7% of respondents preferred organic to conventional foods, 29.4% had craved organic foods for three years, and 28.4% had been interested in only a year. Besides, 30.8% of the research respondents consume organic foods monthly, while 215 spent money on organic foods weekly (Al-Taie et al., 2015).

During the study, although not clearly stated, some challenges were experienced. The questionnaire distribution and collection process was challenging and time-consuming. The respondents were selected from different towns in the UAE, which meant that questionnaires had to be handed and collected manually. Another challenge was to convince random citizens to participate in the research. The majority of participants asked for incentives, which proved difficult due to budget constraints.

In conclusion, younger people are becoming more aware of the benefits of organic food consumption to both the environment and the human body. In the study, the majority of participants preferred organic foods over conventional ones and ate more chocolates, fruits, and fish more than other organic products. Most participants in the study consumed organic food products to conserve the environment or as a new lifestyle trend. Others consume organic food to acquire a certain kind of economic prestige, while others spent money on organic foods once every month (Al-Taie et al., 2015). The findings obtained can be applied directly to my field. Nurses and other health experts should advocate for the implementation of organic food farming to improve both the environment as well as public health.

References

Al-Taie, W. A., Rahal, M. K., AL-Sudani, A. S., & AL-Farsi, K. A. (2015). Exploring the consumption of organic foods in the United Arab Emirates. Sage Open, 5(2), 2158244015592001. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/2158244015592001