Story courtesy of the Colorado Department of Agriculture.
Beginning in 1996 and approximately every five years since, Colorado State University and the Colorado Department of Agriculture have partnered to conduct the Public Attitudes About Colorado Agriculture survey. The 2022 survey was completed this fall by independent researcher, ETC Institute, and surveyed more than 1,100 Coloradans. This year’s findings found public support for Colorado’s agriculture industry continues to be exceptionally strong.
Coloradans consider the food and agriculture industry to be important to the state’s future economic resiliency and quality of life. Those surveyed agree it is important to maintain land and water for agricultural purposes in Colorado.
“When we talk to consumers about what interests them, not all consumers are the same,” said Dawn Thilmany, an agricultural economist and professor with CSU’s Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, co-director of CSU’s Regional Economic Development Institute, and director of the new Northwest and Rocky Mountain Regional Food Business Center. “For some people, they really notice a quality difference … for others, they say it’s a sense of paying into their economy and their community. They know the farmers they’re meeting. They see the land that they’re stewarding … And yet for others, they see it almost as an environmental win. They know supporting those local goods makes sure there are still those farms and ranches that often provide the open spaces they have as their viewscapes, or they recreate in.”
Overwhelming support
The survey shows 98% of respondents agreed that Colorado’s food and ag industry is important to the state’s future economic development; that the presence of ranches, farms and agriculture is important to the quality of life in Colorado; and that it is important to maintain land and water in Colorado for agricultural purposes.
Findings show Coloradans overwhelmingly support developing strong local food systems (96%) and using public funding to protect soil and water resources (84%). Additionally, 83% of Coloradans reported that knowing a food product was grown or raised in Colorado was likely to influence their purchasing decision when shopping or dining out.
Other findings
84% agree public funds should be used to protect soil and water resources.
63% feel agriculture is responsibly protecting the environment and natural resources.
68% believe agriculture is an industry that can help mitigate the impacts of climate change.
98% of Coloradans agree:
- Colorado’s food and agriculture industry is important to the state’s future economic resiliency.
- The presence of ranches, farms, and agriculture are important to our quality of life in Colorado.
- It’s important to maintain land and water for agricultural purposes in Colorado, with the top reasons being food security, maintaining open space and wildlife habitat, and maintaining jobs and businesses related to agriculture.
