Food System Dynamics (E-Journals)
Not a member yet
929 research outputs found
Sort by
Consumers’ Perspective on Dual‐purpose Chickens as Alternative to the Killing of Day‐old Chicks
Get PDFThe usage of dual‐purpose chicken breeds – a chicken breed which provides meat and eggs at the same time is one of the discussed alternatives to prevent cockerel chicks of laying hens from being killed for economic reasons.Therefore, the aim of this study is to analyse consumers’ perspective on dual‐purpose chickens. To get an insight into consumers’ perspective, we initially conducted six focus groups with German consumers focussing on their chicken meat and egg preferences, perception of chicken farming and attitudes towards dual‐purpose chicken breeds. The results show that most of the participants were aware of the killing of day‐old chicks. However, alternatives were scarcely known. After giving the participants information about dual‐purpose chickens, they were generally in favour of this chicken breed. Some participants raised concerns regarding the economic efficiency and the higher product prices. For others, ethical values predominated. All in all, the results demonstrate that thediscussants have specific expectations regarding the husbandry conditions but also regarding the product characteristics and the labelling of dual‐purpose chickens
Sensory‐liking Expectations and Perceptions of Processed and Unprocessed Insect Products
Get PDFThe aim of this study was to investigate how sensory‐liking attribute perceptions (appearance, taste and organoleptic characteristics) can change between a readily visible vs a processed insect product before and after tasting. Results indicate that texture and appearance of the insect are perceived as stronger barriers than the taste attribute. Moreover, both unprocessed and processed insect‐based products generate more positive perceptions after tasting compared to expectations. The positive experience of tasting products with both visible and processed insect may lead consumers to reconsider their initial negative expectations and attitude towards entomophagy
Credence Attributes, Consumers Trust and Sensory Expectations in Modern Food Market: Is there a Need to Redefine their Role?
Get PDFNowadays, food has reached a great level of differentiation, linked to processes, products, and ethical issues as well (Aprile, et al., 2012; Grunert, 2002). Growing consumers awareness of specific product attributes related to health, origin, environment and ethical concerns is shaping a wider concept of food quality (Feldmann & Hamm, 2015; Grunert, 2005). In this scenario, modern agri-food sector builds a new quality construct by integrating search, experience and credence attributes in an innovative way (Oliver, 1980). In particular, the role of credence characteristics to achieve product differentiation is increasing in importance (Fernqvist & Ekelund, 2014). Following the wider concept of food quality, credence attributes cover different dimensions from health and production methods to environmental and social orientation (Moser, et al., 2011). Since such characteristics cannot be verified, credence attributes require standards or certifications to be communicated and to ensure consumers (Scarpa & Del Giudice, 2004; Meixner & Haas, 2016; Sheldon, 2017). This process led to a more specific and complex system of food public and private standards starting from basic elements as origin, to other credence aspects that are decreasingly linked to the intrinsic attributes of the product (Giampietri, et al., 2016)
Knowledge Management for Sustainable Agro-systems: Can Analysis Tools Help us to Understand and Support Agricultural Communities of Practice? Case of the French Lentil Production
Get PDFGrain legumes are often mentioned as one of the levers available for the transition to sustainable agro-food systems. Unfortunately, several socio-technical lock-in, including a serious lack of technical knowledge, are currently limiting their integration in French agriculture. We evaluated the utility of two operational tools developed by the French Club Gestion des Connaissances for the establishment of a diagnosis concerning the knowledge management strategy of agricultural communities. The results of the survey we conducted in seven major French lentil production areas show that those two tools are useful for analysing knowledge management practices and needs in an agricultural field
Opportunities and Challenges in Export Horticulture as an Agro-industrial Food System: Case Study of Northwest Mount Kenya Region
Get PDFExport horticulture in Kenya viewed as an agro-industrial food system is currently the fastest growing agricultural sub-sector in terms of foreign exchange earnings. Increased demand for horticulture products led to production spreading beyond the traditional mountainous high yielding areas into arid and semi-arid zones as in Northwest Mount Kenya. This food system competes with other food systems for common pool resources needed for the production of food. We argue that local actors, especially poorer households lack the power to influence the institutions (‘rules of the game’) of production and resource ownership by which the dominant agro-industrial system impacts their livelihoods.This paper is structured to include the following sections: the introduction, materials and methods, results, discussion and conclusions on the challenges and opportunities in export horticulture as an agro-industrial food system: case study of Northwest Mount Kenya region
Different Tubers for Different Consumers: Heterogeneity in Human Values and Willingness to Pay for Social Outcomes of Potato Credence Attributes
Get PDFThis paper investigates heterogeneity in consumers’ human values and willingness to pay (WTP) for social outcomes of credence process attributes that might have some positive social impact on purchases of early potatoes in Italy and Germany. Consumers’ identification with cross‐cultural human values is measured according to the Schwartz’ Portrait Values Questionnaire; the distribution of preferences for product attributes that claim a positive social impact among respondents with different human values is modeled using mixed logit analysis. Parallel survey studies were conducted in each country with the intention of comparing the impact of human values using the Schwartz Values framework on willingness to pay for early potatoes with several credence process attributes that may signal a positive social outcome as a result of purchase (price, country of origin, carbon footprint certification, ethical certification, and method of production). This paper aims to help clarify the role, if any, that pro‐social consumer values have in influencing the willingness to pay for specific food credence process attributes that claim to have a social impact. To the best of our knowledge this is one of the first paper to focus on the role human values have in influencing the willingness to pay for specific extrinsic food attributes
Farmers Perception on Climate Change and Determinants of Adaptation Strategies in Benishangul-Gumuz Regional State of Ethiopia
Get PDFAdaptation to climate change involves changes in agricultural technologies in particular and management practices in general to reduce its risk and effects. To minimize the losses due to climate change factors, farmers have employed different climate change adaptation strategies. Consequently, this study examines farmer adaptation strategies to climate change in Benishangul-Gumuz Regional State of Ethiopia based on a cross-section data of three representative zones of Assosa, Kamashi zones and Mao-komo special district. The study describes the perceptions of smallholder farmers to changes in climate change indicators and adaptation measures at the farm household level using multivariate discrete choice model to identify the determinants of adaptation strategies. The econometric model has showed that households demographic factors, resources endowments (land, labor, livestock), institutional factors (access to extension services, cooperative membership and access to credit) are some of the important determinants of farm-level adaptation. The policy implication from our finding is that improving access to credit, production factors (like land, labor) enhancing the bargaining power of smallholder farmers can significantly increase farm-level adaptation to climate change. Moreover, adopting different improved crop varieties have showed better yield gains than non-adopters. Thus, policies and strategies should focus at research and development on appropriate technologies that help smallholder farmers’ adaptation capacity to climate changes hereby varietal development, appropriate agronomic recommendations, pre-extension demonstration and popularization of improved cultivars and promoting appropriate farm-level adaptation measures such as use of irrigation technologies
Book Review: Muller, Jerry Z. (2018). The Tyranny of Metrics
Get PDFAfter extensive discussions at several lengthy meetings, and deep deliberations by its elected part‐time officials, the faculty eventually introduced a new mechanism for distributing to departments and professors its rather meager research funds: To each according to his or her publishing performance! Theessential element of the mechanism was a point system for publications of various types ‐ many points for articles in high‐impact journals (don't ask!), and few points for contributions in trade journals. It didn't take long for a faculty member to expose a weakness of the new rules. He published one and the same a paper in a network of syndicated farm journals and, by that rule, collected points for each appearance of that paper. He thereby collected more points ‐ and research funds ‐ than he would have received had he published a paper in the most highly ranked research journal in his field. Eyebrows had been raised at the time. With this episode in my memory, I was intrigued by Muller's book "The tyranny of metrics" of which the publisher claims, "In this timely and powerful book, Jerry Muller uncovers the damage our obsession with metrics is causing—and shows how we can begin to fix the problem." Let’s see how much truth is in this advertising
Exploring Consumer Biased Evaluations: Halos Effects of Local Food and of Related Attributes
Get PDFThe paper explores the (mis)perceptions related to local food to identify potential halo effects. It also investigates whether product beliefs relate to the food category itself or to its perceived attributes. 133 students answered a questionnaire regarding four cheeses labelled as local, conventional, organic, or PDO. Results show that local claims lead to perceiving the cheese as healthier, but less hygienic. Results suggest also other two potential halos: (i) the “tradition halo” that links perceived traditional character to healthiness and taste; and (ii) the “environmental and animal care halo” that links respect for environment and animal welfare to food safety
Beyond the Farm Gate: Postharvest Loss and the Role of Agro‐Processors in Sub‐Saharan African Food Security
Get PDFThe paper examines the challenge of postharvest loss (PHL) in Sub‐Saharan Africa. It focuses on strategies to address PHL at the agro‐processing level through more coordinated approaches to nutrition‐sensitive agriculture programmes. Looking beyond the traditional focus of on‐farm storage facilities and smallholder behavioural change, the paper examines three interrelated issue areas that ought to be included in broad‐based strategies to curb PHL: accurate measurement of losses; better coordination of agriculture and nutrition interventions; and addressing informational and infrastructural challenges. The paper argues that improvements made in any or all downstream components have the potential to reduce rates of PHL. It emphasizes the value of a systems approach when developing multi‐stakeholder strategies to combat PHL