Food System Dynamics (E-Journals)
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Responsible innovation in layer poultry farming: Are organic consumers sufficiently informed about the current situation of killing day-old male chicks to contribute to the innovation process?
Get PDFCurrently, there is no societal consensus on the handling of male chicks in layer poultry farming. When searching for responsible innovation in the face of ethical concerns due to the killing of these day-old male chicks, consumers as main stakeholders should be involved in the innovation process. However, participation in the innovation process requires sufficient knowledge of the current situation and its alternatives, since only this knowledge allows informed judgments. In order to gain insight into consumers’ knowledge and their attitudes towards the alternative of rearing the male chicks, we conducted 146 tablet-aided standardised personal interviews with customers of a German organic butcher’s shop, as these customers may be a target group for cockerel products. The results reveal the respondents’ profound disapproval about the current situation of killing day-old male chicks, but also show a considerable lack of knowledge. We conclude that comprehensive educational work is necessary to enable consumers to form a sound opinion and to participate in the innovation process
Effect of Information on Appreciation of Red Wines
Get PDFThe aim of this study is to identify if consumers’ knowledge about wine is a factor which contribute to change wine appreciation. A consumer survey was carried-out in France in 2014 with 407 consumers. The test was focusing on sensory evaluation of 37 red wines from Bourgogne. Two ways of evaluation were used visual and smell-&-taste evaluation. This was done first, without any information about sample, second, with information about wine. Consumers were asked to fill-in questionnaire focusing on their knowledge about wine.The results are significant whatever the way of evaluation used. Some participants were heavily influenced by the information displayed and they modified their note positively. Connoisseur and Expert clusters appreciate more the wines tasted than Amateur or Novice ones. Information and gender have a significant impact on appreciation of Burgundy red wines
Corporate Communication Actions in Response to Crises: Empirical Evidence in Food Fraud in Brazil
Get PDFThe paper proposes a framework for corporate communication action in wicked scenarios based on stakeholder salience theory (SST). Empirical evidences was collected through a food fraud case in Brazil during 30 days after the scandal on Social Media. A qualitative content analysis was conducted to discriminate the online corporatecommunication strategies adopted by the two major food companies involved in the scandal. The results indicated that both firms lacked an immediate mandate to address the legitimate stakeholders’ claim. This study adds the action perspective to stakeholder salience theory, providing practical guidelines for marketers in the food sector who face wicked contexts, attempting to achieve transparency and common goals along with their stakeholders
Societal Perspectives on a Bio-economy in Germany: An Explorative Study Using Q Methodology
Get PDFBio-economy describes an economy based on renewable instead of fossil resources. To ensure the success of this transformation it is necessary to involve society into the process. Q methodology was used to empirically assess people’s perspectives on bio-economy in Germany. Using a Q-type factor analysis three perspectives were identified. “Sufficiency and close affinity to nature” focuses on natural/ecological relations, while “Technological Progress” favours technologies to become less dependent on fossil resources. The third perspective “Not at any price” is rather concerned about economic trade-offs. People’s viewpoints could be useful for politicians and stakeholders to improve communication and knowledge building on bio-economy in Germany
Estimating the Impact of Trade Costs on Agricultural Productivity
Get PDFUtilizing a new measure of trade costs, this study tries to provide first evidence of the link between trade costs and productivity in the agricultural sector. Using a panel data of readily available data, across the 34 OECD member countries, this paper tries to assess and estimate the impact of trade costs on agricultural sector productivity for the 1995 – 2014 period. According to the results, there is strong evidence that when the agricultural sector faces lower trade costs, it tends to be more productive and there is some evidence that it experiences higher productivity growth too
The Impact of the Economic Crisis on Greek Consumer Behaviour towards Food Consumption
Get PDFThis study was focused on investigating the factors that affect consumers and their shopping attitudes in the turbulent economic period which characterizes the recent years. In particular, the main aim of this study was to investigate and contribute towards understanding consumer behavior and to explore the factors that affect consumers during their food shopping in adverse economic conditions. To address our research objective, the study is focused on identifying consumers’ current spending habits and investigating consumers’ food purchasing behavior. Data were obtained from an intercept survey conducted in a random selected sample consisting of 553 consumers between January and May 2016 in the Prefecture of Thessaloniki. In the data which were collected,initially, reliability and validation testing was performed with Factor Analysis (EFA) followed by a second checking ofvalidity with Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) using the statistical program LISREL 8.80. The results were used toformulate a conceptual model in order to investigate consumers’ behavior towards food. The empirical examination of this theoretical model was carried out by forming a model of structural equations. Results demonstrate that “objective resources” have been found to influence behavior both indirectly through the “attitudes” towards diet, but also directly. Income was found to affect the model directly and significantly. Also, consumption of food is affected by the number of adults in the household. At the same time, there is a rejection of the “quality” factor due to its higher price
To Contract or not Contract: Implications for Farmer–Buyer Trading Relation Performance
Get PDFThe paper analyses the value chain coordination of greenhouse vegetables in Albania, which has a strong export orientation. Based on a structured farm survey, the study constributes to the value chain literature of the vertical coordination of agricultural products by addressing the question of how chain governance modes differ in terms of exercised power and farmers’ satisfaction (an indicator of performance) with the trading relationship. The results point out that farmers operating with agreements show higher levels of satisfaction with the trading relationship than do farmers selling on the spot market. On the other hand, those operating with agreements are under higher levels of exercised power over product quality
Potential Applications of Food-Scanners in Fruit and Vegetable Supply Chains and Possible Consequences for the German Market
Get PDFOriginally advertised as tools for end-consumers, food-scanners have recently gained publicity and show potential as instruments for quality assessment along the fruit and vegetable supply chain. The current study explores preferences and concerns of chain actors regarding the implementation of this technology through semi-structured interviews. Results indicate that food-scanners could facilitate quality control at different levels of the fresh produce supply chain by providing fast, non-destructive and objective measurements. Concerns about the application of food-scanners could be identified with respect to potential additional requirements of trading companies resulting in more pressure on producers. The use of food-scanners by end-consumers is discussed critically. To further a goal-oriented and user-directed development of this new technology, future research should be directed at its impacts on perception of fruit quality along the chain as well as end-consumers’ readiness to use these devices in everyday life
Opportunities and Limits In The Application Of The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Method Adopted To Pulp Demanded By the German Paper Production Industry
Get PDFThe Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach is the most important tool in the evaluation of environmental (sustainability) impacts of products and processes. We used the method to conduct an impact analysis with regard to raw material inputs (pulp) for the German paper production industry. In our analysis, we compare the environmental effects of primary sulphate pulp, scrap paper pulp and grass-based pulp and estimate their impacts in the impact categories “greenhouse gas emissions”, “eutrophication” as well as “energy and water consumption”. Furthermore, we discuss the opportunities of the methodical approach and some general problems and limits of the application of a LCA. In conclusion, we found environmental advantages for the use of grass as an alternative resource in the German paper production industry, especially in the fields of transport and water consumption
