Food System Dynamics (E-Journals)
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Vulnerability and Critical Control Point Assessment of the Feta Cheese Supply Chain in Greece towards Blockchain Implementation
Full text linkAs unique and culturally important commodities, food items designated with Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) play a pivotal role in the food supply chain by safeguarding the authenticity and uniqueness of regional delicacies. Within the PDO realm, Feta cheese, a culturally significant dairy product with strict geographic and production regulations, faces challenges like counterfeit products, threatening its authenticity. This study examines the PDO Feta cheese supply chain, focusing on "Olympos" producer and "Masoutis" retailer in Greece. This evaluation utilizes the Delphi Technique in combination with the design phases of HACCP, VACCP, and TACCP to thoroughly examine operations, vulnerabilities, and critical control points. The findings reveal numerous weaknesses and critical control points in the Feta cheese supply chain that require attention and serve as a foundation for enhancing PDO supply chains. Moreover, Blockchain Technology (BT) is proposed as a solution to enhance traceability. BT, with its decentralized and immutable ledger system, is seen as transformative in data management, fostering trust among stakeholders. It ensures transparent and auditable records throughout the supply chain, providing consumers with unprecedented authenticity transparency. The integration of BT holds promise for enhancing overall integrity and efficiency, benefiting all stakeholders
Blockchain Application in Food Supply Chains: Bibliometric Analysis and Future Research
Full text linkThis study aimed to organize and analyze studies on blockchain application in food supply chains and to discover emerging research themes and topics using cluster analysis to determine future research directions. Bibliometric analysis was used to organize and analyze the literature on blockchain application in food supply chains. The database consisted of 629 Scopus-indexed articles from 2016 to 2021. These were organized using bibliometric analysis (e.g., annual publication trends) and content analysis (e.g., research method applied). Themes and emerging research trends were then clustered based on keywords using the VOSviewer software. The analysis showed that manufacturing is the type of industry that most applies the blockchain. Trust is the most-cited benefit achieved by blockchain application, while traceability is the most-claimed function. Keyword classification resulted in seven main clusters (e.g., sustainability and transparency) and each cluster had emerging research trends (e.g., resilience toward sustainability and transparency). This research provides an overview of scientific development and emerging application trends related to blockchain application in food supply chains
Visual Perception and Acceptance Of Agrivoltaic In An Eye-Tracking Experiment In Germany
Full text linkthe countryside. Thus, questions of landscape aesthetics and public acceptance arise. This also applies to agrivoltaic (AV), an approach that refers to different techniques for the simultaneous use of land for agricultural purposes and photovoltaic electricity production. We tested hypotheses on the extent to which varying image content representing different types of grassland use affects the visual perception and acceptance of AV. To test our hypotheses, we conducted a between-subjects experimental study within a mixed methods approach. In our eye-tracking experiment, participants were randomly shown one of the three versions of the AV site. During this time, eye-tracking data was recorded, allowing qualitative analyses with heat maps and attention maps. Quantitative analyses included time to first fixation, fixation duration, and number of fixations in defined areas of interest (AOI) of gaze behaviour. Subsequently, participants were asked about their acceptance of the AV variant. Eye-tracking data from 29 participants were used for data analysis. The results show that additional image elements attract visual attention - statistically significant only according to some of the several quantitative indicators. Although additional image elements modulate some gaze behaviour indicators, we are not able to provide evidence that this leads to an increased acceptance of AV. In the before-and-after comparison, which considers a more comprehensive processing of information by the participants, the acceptance of AV increased significantly only for grasslands and special crops. Our results suggest that attitudes towards AV are rather stable and cannot be easily modulated by additional information. More comprehensive communication and participation strategies may be needed to avoid public conflicts about AV
Eating Algae? Consumer Perception of Algae-Based Food in Austria
Full text linkAlgae-based foods are becoming more and more popular in recent years. They not only provide health benefits for the human organism but are also cheap and sustainable to produce. Therefore, algae-based novel food products hold potential for future expansion within the consumer market. On the basis of a discrete choice experiment, we assessed consumer perception and willingness to pay (WTP) of Austrian consumers for innovative food products made from algae on the example of algae crackers. To approximate the weighting of the product attributes origin, price, flavor, production method, and packaging, Choice Based Conjoint Analysis (CBCA) was applied (online survey; n = 301). In addition, socio-demographic data were collected and the preferences of the participants towards algae food products were determined using scales from literature. Subsequently, WTP for each product attribute was approximated based on the outcome of the CBCA.Results of the CBCA show that the attribute “production method” is the most important attribute with an overall importance of 26.7% (maximum part worth utility for the attribute level “organic”), followed by price (25.6%; as expected, the lowest price has the highest part worth utility), origin (20.6%; maximum part worth utility for domestic origin), packaging (17.3%; paper packaging) and taste (9.8%; almost no differences between “spicey”, “salt”, “sweet”). Based on these results, the overall WTP was assessed: +1.90 € for products produced in Austria compared to products imported from the EU; +2.42 € for organically produced and +1.44 € more for paper packaging (in comparison to plastic packaging). Altogether, the present study shows that in general algae-based food products are positively perceived by consumers; the findings are roughly in line with previous studies from literature, with some interesting differences—e.g., higher WTP for organic algae-based food compared to similar studies where regional production was evaluated to be of higher importance. Therefore, it is expected that innovative algae foods have significant potentials in today's consumer food market; however, food producers should consider the expectations and perceptions of consumers in order to be able to successfully introduce novel algae food products in this—at least up to now—niche market
Cluster Analysis Of Soybean Farms Participating In The Agro Plus Program In The State Of Minas Gerais, Brazil
Full text linkBrazil is the world largest producer and exporter of soy and sustainability is a key issue for Brazilian import markets. In this context, the Agro Plus program, former Soja Plus, was set up in the early 2010s by the Brazilian Vegetable Oil Industries and Farmers Associations (ABIOVE) with the objective of improving the environmental and social conditions of the agricultural production. The Agro Plus has been implemented in 5.300 farms nationwide using a checklist which comprises around 230 indicators divided into Social-Environmental and Rural Construction major themes. In Minas Gerais State the program is coordinate by the Federal University of Viçosa (UFV) and the Farmers´ Association. Based on the updated version of the checklist applied in 123 farms during the 2021/22 season in Minas Gerais, the objective of the paper was to identify critical indicators and groups of farms, allowing the discussion and proposition of individual and collective actions. By the cluster analysis, three groups of farms (A, B and C) were identified comprising of 18, 77 and 22 farms respectively. Identified critical indicators and the analysis of farms´ groups allowed the proposition of focused capacity building to specific group of farms. The expansion of the analysis, including data from other Brazilian states, will allow a more robust evaluation of the program and comparisons between the different regions. Furthermore, it would be very opportune to include data from other states and discuss the results considering the requirements of specific markets, such as China
An Economic Retrospective on the Policy Banning Glyphosate in Sri Lanka between 2015 and 2018: The Case of the Tea Industry
Full text linkThere was a flawed policy banning Glyphosate in Sri Lanka in 2015 that was later withdrawn, but only after significant economic losses were experienced, especially in the tea industry. The focus of this study is to highlight the impact of the policy on the tea growing sector and determine the economic cost on the tea value chain. It is also aimed to remind policymakers that science and economics, theory and evidence, still matter in implementing public policies. The methods used in the study involved gross margin budget analysis of tea grower groups, thematic analysis of qualitative data collected through interviews and welfare analysis of the impacts of the ban on the industry using an Equilibrium Displacement Model. Direct impacts were experienced by the farm sector engaging in tea cultivation. An unintended consequence of this policy was rejection of tea exports from Sri Lanka to Japanese markets. The annual loss in the tea industry by banning Glyphosate was estimated to be LKR 20 billion (more than $US100 million), though the true cost likely was much more than this. Hence, policies introduced to minimize adverse impacts from market failures warrant full attention being given to the scientific, economic, social and political realities of the case at hand, and the likely consequences for the affected parties and their responses
Change talk: Levels of adaptability to the livestock sector transformation
Full text linkThe livestock sector is facing numerous challenges due to a transformation process caused by animal welfare concerns and environmental impacts. Different stakeholders in this process have their own individual interests and depend on each other in several ways. The discussions of livestock sector transformation are complex and show, that change processes need special ways to communicate. Mainly the method of motivational interviews is used as a method-of-choice-instrument especially when it comes to goal conflicts. This article will help to better understand communication processes between farmers and consumers in group discussions based on qualitative data analysis. A special focus beside the way of communication is on the aspects of animal welfare and livestock reduction. Results show insights into perspectives for communication strategies for different stakeholders. For perspectives on future animal husbandry systems it can be seen that there are three differing groups that will have to be addressed differently in upcoming political communication strategies
Emotional response to pictures of farm animals: Influence of picture content and recipient characteristics
Full text linkPictures play a dominant role in communication about livestock farming. They are used by competing lobby groups not only to inform their audience cognitively but also to target emotionally. However, few studies have looked at the effects pictures from livestock farming have on recipients. In this study, we used an online survey to investigate the emotional response in the dimensions pleasure and arousal to pictures showing farm animals of the animal classes fish, birds, and mammals in different circumstances. The results show that pictures depicting farm animals in an outdoor environment led to high pleasure and low arousal. Looking at pictures showing animals kept indoors led to less pleasure and higher arousal, a response that was further intensified when recipients were confronted with pictures of suffering animals. While the recipients’ characteristics investigated in this study, i.e. professional background, belief in animal mind and personality traits, had no influence on emotional response to pictures showing farm animals outdoors, they affected emotional response to pictures depicting farm animals indoors and suffering. We discuss how awareness of the individuality of emotional response and reflection on one’s own emotional states related to livestock farming might lead to more animal and human welfare and a more respectful dialogue between opposing groups
The Influence of Child Food Packaging Design on Perceptions of Kenyan Consumers: Conjoint Analysis Combined with Eye Tracking
Full text linkLocally manufactured, healthy and affordable child foods based on traditional recipes have the potential to improve the high child malnutrition rates in African drylands. Professional, informative packaging is needed by women groups manufacturing such foods to access the formal market. With the aim of identifying suitable packaging designs, a conjoint experiment was combined with eye tracking. 16 packaging designs were created (D-efficient design), randomly displayed and their attractiveness rated by 98 participants. Overall, the results indicate that child food packaging designs displaying food safety marks and detailed nutritional information could help Kenyan consumers to build trust in the offered product. Consumers gain information from pictures displaying the product’s ingredients as well as a logo composed using the colours of the Kenyan flag. The picture of a cute cartoon animal helps consumers identify the product as child foo
Is animal welfare of great importance when purchasing poultry meat? - Results from cross-national focus groups with consumers -
Full text linkFarm animal husbandry is increasingly criticized by consumers across Europe. This paper provides insights into consumer attitudes and perceptions regarding animal welfare poultry meat in the study countries Denmark, France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Animal welfare is stated to be an important product characteristic, although it obtains less importance than other product attributes such as quality and price. However, many participants indicated to be willing to pay a higher price for poultry meat produced under improved husbandry conditions. The main motivating factors for buying improved animal welfare poultry meat are the perception of better quality and ethical concerns