Food System Dynamics (E-Journals)
Not a member yet
929 research outputs found
Sort by
Online food shopping under COVID-19 – a technology acceptance model to evaluate consumption motives and barriers
Full text linkSince the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) declared the novel coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) a global pandemic, online food retailing has experienced tremendous growth. Initial forecasts expected global year-over-year growth rates of approximately 33% in 2020. The aim of this research is (1) to identify the relevant consumption motives and consumption barriers of Austrian online grocery trade using the technology acceptance model and (2) to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the driving factors. The results of the empirical analysis showed that perceived usefulness has the greatest influence on acceptance behavior in online grocery retailing. Perceived ease of use of online stores also contributes to acceptance behavior. The higher the perceived shopping pleasure and visibility of grocery online retailers, the higher the perceived benefits and ease of use. Regarding barriers, the lack of possibility for consumers to sensory check the quality of food before purchase turned out to be a weak-significant barrier that reduces the perceived usefulness. In contrast to other studies, the time facets of delivery and ordering were significantly found to not be a barrier in this research. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, more people have been shown to purchase groceries online. Although a large portion of the sample believes that grocery shopping online is a way to reduce or protect against the risk of infection, neither health aspects nor the situational factor used significantly affect acceptance in this research. In contrast, aspects of COVID-19 have a moderating effect on the purchase intention and purchase behavior. People who perceive grocery online retailing as helpful in protecting themselves from COVID-19 infection perceive a significantly higher benefit and hav
Iranian Consumers’ Willingness to Pay for Fresh Fish
Full text linkThis paper explores attitudes and willingness to pay (WTP) for Norwegian salmon, Iranian rainbow trout, and Iranian narrow-barred Spanish mackerel among Iranian consumers. An interval regression model found that consumption frequency and product attributes affected WTP. Salmon was ranked highest on taste, nutrition, and convenience but lowest on price. The average estimated WTP for salmon was US $14.82, which is higher than for the other species but below the market price. The main challenges for salmon exporters will be to reduce the current high price and to differentiate salmon further in the market
The Potential of the Rice Value Chain in the Mekong Delta to Develop High Value Export Markets
Full text linkThis study aims at analyzing the current status of the rice value chain in the Mekong Delta focusing on export channels. The study assessed primary data collected from respondents related to the chain in the year 2020. Research results show that about 35% of rice in the region is used for export, of which most of the rice exported belongs to the high quality segment. Although improvements achieved recently, the regional rice value chain still faces many limitations. The study proposes solutions to strengthen the rice value chain and increase the volume of high quality rice exported into more demanding high income markets
The Gap between Citizens’ Concerns and Consumers’ Actions: Which Factors Impair the Adoption of Food-related Mitigation Options?
Full text linkThe main aim of this contribution is to identify factors that influence consumers’ willingness to adopt food-related options to mitigate climate change and reveal how these factors are interlinked. In-depth interviews were carried out with 32 consumers in Germany, France and the UK; the results were analyzed and described in the context of Alphabet Theory. The allocation of findings from the interviews to the theoretical framework helps to identify interrelations, to provide explanations and thereby achieve to take a holistic view on the topic, without neglecting contextual information. The findings of this study indicate that a higher level of knowledge will result in more personal responsibility assumed by the consumers and will increase their willingness to adopt mitigation options. Hence, it is relevant to enhance consumers’ knowledge on climate-friendly food choices through broad public information campaigns and education programs
How does the Adoption of Digital Technologies Affect the Social Sustainability of Small-scale Agriculture in South-West Germany?
Full text linkThe adoption of digital technologies is expected to impact the social sustainability of agriculture, in particular in the case of small and mid-sized family farms in Western Europe. Goal of this research was to assess these impacts, however widely accepted impact assessment schemes of social sustainability are missing. Against this background, a qualitative, two-stage Delphi survey was conducted in order to identify relevant impact categories of the adoption of digital technologies in family-operated small-scale farms of South-West Germany. The participating experts stated, for example, that the adoption of digital technologies on the farm could mean that new business models can be based on the use of digital technologies. However, they also stated that digital technology could overburden farmers, which could hinder digitization in this sector as a whole. Data protection and data security were also issues ranked highly important by the participants in the Delphi Process
Potential demand for synthetic meat
Full text linkThe demand for meat products is rising globally. A potential substitute for meat is synthetic meat, meat produced in the laboratory. Synthetic meat is not in the market yet due to high production costs and regulatory issues, but it will probably be available during the next decade. If cheap and popular it may crowd out the demand and production of farmed meat and herby affect farmers income. In this study we have used data from a choice experiment in Norway to construct price and income elasticities for synthetic meat with three different assumptions. The data shows that half of the population does not accept synthetic meat. They will not buy it whatever the price. The own-price elasticities were estimated to be in the interval [-0.47,-0.08] and the cross-price elasticities were in the interval [0.09,0.40]. The income elasticities were all close to 0. If these elasticities were valid in a situation in which synthetic meat is available on the market, we could infer that the market for synthetic meat is limited
Coordination as a competitive factor: the Peruvian blueberries agribusiness system case
Full text linkHighly healthy fruits, such as blueberries, have seen increasing demand in both traditional and emerging markets in recent years. Peru, a farmer of high-value fresh fruits and vegetables in the southern hemisphere, began exporting blueberries in 2010, becoming the main exporter of this product. The Peruvian blueberry agribusiness system maintains an effective level of coordination between the different economic actors of the production system. For this reason, the objective of this work was to evaluate the level of coordination between the actors of the blueberry agribusiness system that allowed the competitive positioning of Peru in the international market. The theoretical approach used is the Transaction Cost Economics framework, and the methodology consists of an analysis of transactions through the evaluation of governance structures, attributes of transaction and levels of transaction cost. Primary and secondary sources are used for the collection of study data. The results show a high level of coordination between the actors from the existence of the vertical integration structures in the production-packaging-distribution stages of the agribusiness system. This organizational structure was designed by the large blueberry farmers to optimize coordination, make productive operations effective and minimize transaction costs. Investment in specific assets is high, in relation to assets of the temporal, physical and human type. Therefore, the vertical integration -forward- of the farmers safeguards their investments and reduces uncertainty in terms of sales price and product quality, depending on market demand. On the other hand, there is also an efficient coordination relationship between suppliers of inputs and technology, medium and small farmers, packers, wholesale and retail distributors. The predominant organizational structure among these actors is the formal contract, which allows safeguarding investments from the production stage and reducing uncertainty in terms of product quality during marketing. It is concluded that the high level of coordination is a competitive factor of the blueberry agribusiness system in Peru, since the coordination mechanisms developed by the actors allow reducing exchange costs and market uncertainty. The high level of coordination between the actors has boosted exports and consolidated Peru's position as an important player in the commercialization of fresh blueberries worldwide
Spirituality, Socialization and Knowledge: a Philosophical Approach to the Slow Food Agri-food System
Full text linkThe goal of this paper is to develop a better understanding on the potential to recognise a fourth principle encompassed by the slow food movement – agri-food philosophy – supported in three factors: spirituality, socialization, and knowledge. Employing a Delphi method to forecast if this new principle might constitute a future trend in agri-food systems, in a ten years timeframe, twenty-four national experts from business, administration and academic backgrounds have contributed their thoughts over three rounds. The results allowed to predict several trends associated with each of the three factors. Firstly, regarding the Socialization factor, findings revealed the growing importance given to three trends: the value of food, the "training of taste" and the "wise gourmand" of food traditions and artisans. This scenario can occur in 89.4%. Secondly, and concerning the Spirituality factor, the panel of experts validated that food associated with physical exercise and meditation will be the most important axes for achieving harmony of being. This trend observes can occur 82.8%. Finally, and in relation to the Knowledge factor, it was concluded that a standard of conduct assumed by all stakeholders will be possible based on full transparency (from raw materials to consumption) and access to true information. This trend can occur in 88.9%. This research allowed to conclude that there is space to reflect on the importance of philosophical standpoints to forecast trends in future agri-food systems. More importantly, it can stimulate serious and deeply critical thinking about the current state of agri-food systems and contribute to help and develop new research approaches, on the need to promote changes, not only in lifestyles and food consumption, but mainly in establishing and improving more transparency in all types of agri-food systems
Integrated Economic Efficiency and Vulnerability of Chu-Mango Value Chain in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam
Full text linkThe main purpose of this study is to identify the allocation of cost, revenue, and net profit of stakeholders in marketing channels, identify vulnerable actors, and suggest policies for the sustainability of the Chu-mango value chain. This study employed value chain analysis to analyze the integrated economic efficiency of the Chu-mango value chain in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. A total of 404 observations were collected from farmers, cooperatives, collectors, wholesalers, local retailers, export enterprises, processing firms, and supermarkets/fruit shops. The integrated economic efficiency of the Chu-mango value chain amounts to a revenue of USD 530.4 million and a net profit of USD 54.3 million. The export channels provide a revenue of USD 135.1 million and a net profit of USD 14.1 million while the domestic channels provide a revenue of USD 395.3 million and a net profit of USD 40.2 million. The findings show that farmers are the most vulnerable actors in the chain in terms of small-scale and low mango quality. This study suggests three policy initiatives: quality improvement, technological progress, and benefit re-distribution. The findings of this study contribute to the literature on value chain analysis for other tropical fruits and vegetables, and confirm the role of the value chain approach in policymaking