1National Research Institute of Fisheries Science, Fisheries Research Agency, Ueda, Nagano 386-0031, 2Faculty of Tourism and Environmental Studies, Nagano University, Ueda, Nagano 386-1298, Japan
We estimated the public opinion on paddy field aquaculture through a sensory test of cooked rice. The rice examined was cultivated with or without a crucian carp (Funa) rearing system on experimental paddies with no pesticide. Contents of amylose, starch and protein, which affect the quality of rice, did not show distinct differences between the Funa-reared rice and control rice. In a comparison with the quality of conventionally cultivated rice, 84 panels judged the palatability between the Funa-reared rice and control rice. The blind test detected no difference between the two, while the open test evaluated the former as more palatable. This disagreement implies that pesticide-free rural aquaculture has a favorable impression on today's consumers who are highly interested in food safety and environmental amenity.