Insect-based food is not common in Europe, because most people do not consider insects to be edible, but rather a threat and a health risk. Fear and refusal to eat a new food product introduced into ...a culture is called food neophobia, which results in a hesitation to trying and experimenting with new foods. Although there is significant interest in this novel sector, there is a lack of research on the link between rejection, the level of food neophobia, and consumer behavior related to the introduction of insects into the diet. In this study, through 420 questionnaires, a specific experimental scale of insects was introduced which, together with a neophobia scale, analyzed the probability and the intention of respondents to consume insects. Another issue tested has been their intention to eat food containing insects. We observed that the analyses of the two scales produced different results, confirming the need for a specific scale to measure "insect phobia". This is important, since knowledge about consumer preferences for and barriers to using insects as human food sources is limited but necessary in order to set up commercialization strategies. The development of insect-based food offers physical health benefits and also improves the sustainability of the food industry.
In the scenario of food consumptions, we witness the consumer's growing consideration for the “convenience” attribute. Our study intends to understand the consumer behaviour towards ...convenience-processed foods by analysing in a single model the role of beliefs, personal traits, social influence and market availability. We applied a Structural Equation Model (SEM) to a representative sample of 426 Italian consumers. The results show a correlation between intention to consume convenience-processed foods and social influence, market availability and several personal traits, suggesting strategies for the development of the convenience food market.
Several studies have focused on the behaviour of consumers towards organic wine, finding varying and sometimes conflicting results. Some scholars have noted that consumers may perceive wine labelled ...as organic to be of a lower quality, whereas others have found that consumers are willing to pay a premium price for it. Starting from these discrepancies found in the literature, this study seeks to investigate how the organic certification influences consumers when purchasing a bottle of red wine, evaluating the possible presence of attribute non-attendance (ANA) behaviour. A choice experiment was carried out on a sample of Italian wine consumers. Findings highlight that although, on average, consumers do not prefer organic wine, there is a relevant niche in the market consisting of consumers who benefit from purchasing it. Moreover, we have found that the majority of the sample ignores the organic attribute when choosing a bottle of wine, which reveals ANA behaviour.
Consumers’ interest in product information, such as nutrition, environment, and social aspects, is increasing in the food market. Blockchain technology can enhance credibility of quality signals on ...labels through transparency and accountability in the supply chain. This study examines the impact of blockchain technology on reducing consumer uncertainty about credence attributes and facilitating informed choices. It is particularly relevant for food policies, as greater consumer awareness promotes proactive involvement in sustainability and public health. We conducted a choice experiment with 300 Italian consumers, focusing on craft beer and analysing how blockchain technology in strengthens organic and DOP certification. The results provide valuable insights for producers and policymakers to develop voluntary approaches that engage society in objectives that concern the collective well-being. They highlight the potential of blockchain technology in communicating credence attributes and empowering consumers. However, our study reveals that the impact of blockchain technology on choices is influenced by a different level of trust, likely due to the complexity of understanding its functioning.
The quality of life in rural populations plays a key role in rural development policies. Starting from a capabilities approach, the aim of this work is to evaluate, with a simultaneous quantile ...regression, the heterogeneity of the determinants of quality of life by analyzing the opportunities addressed to rural populations. These opportunities are quantified as the availability of healthcare, education, economic opportunities, environmental conditions, human pressure, and the accessibility of the areas. The focus on capabilities represents a change from the prevailing setting, which tends to assess levels of well‐being by functioning as a proxy of capabilities. The results show that the availability of basic services, especially those used frequently, are essential elements for maintaining adequate levels of quality of life in rural areas.
This article's aim is to identify and quantify the connection between a winery business typology and its production cost per bottle to create benchmarks for managerial and organisational choices. ...Accounting data from wineries in representative areas of the Tuscan wine sector were collected with direct, face-to-face interviews. The data were processed using a cost accounting model elaborated by UniCeSV (Centre for the Strategic Development of the Wine Sector, University of Florence) to classify costs according to production phases and production factors. The study was completed using a hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) approach to investigate the relation between cost structures and business typologies. The implementation of the cost accounting model and the HCA showed a strong relationship between how wineries are organised and how costs are structured. Moreover, the weight of geographical localisation (i.e., belonging to a specific denomination of origin) has proved to be a key determinant in the shape of the cost structures of wineries.
China has experienced frequent food safety incidents that have undermined consumer trust in the food supply chain. To overcome this problem, China requalified the legislative framework and adopted a ...comprehensive food certification system over the years. Here, we investigated the influences of food traceability and Chinese certifications (QS/SC—food quality safety market access/production system, hazard-free, green, and organic) on Chinese consumer trust of food safety for different types of products: fish, meat, milk, eggs, and rice. Data were collected through face-to-face surveys conducted in rural and urban Chinese areas. With a sample of 757 questionnaires, we ran a logit model. The results show consumers’ uncertainty and skepticism of certifications guaranteeing food safety attributes, especially for animal-based products. We found that price is used as a cue of safety by Chinese consumers. Individuals with higher education seem less influenced by certifications and other cues included in the analysis. The findings demonstrate that Chinese policy makers should implement new strategies to enhance consumer food safety trust, and design policies by considering different categories (e.g., vegetables, meat, fish, etc.) of food.
Despite the fact that at the global level, half the planet’s wildlife population has declined since 1970, this trend is not homogeneous across species and areas. Indeed, focusing on the ungulates, ...their increasing population and density has become worrisome in several rural areas. Favoured by economic and social changes often related to human activities, ungulates have conquered areas where coexistence with humans is difficult to maintain as a result of the damage that ungulates cause to agricultural activities and forests. This work aims to analyse the relationship between the number of ungulates and the characteristics of a specific area they inhabit. Applying a Geographically Weighted Regression analysis (GWR), we analysed and tested the spatial non-stationarity of the relationship between ungulates and human activities. Mugello, an area in central Italy, was selected for this study. This area was chosen due to the presence of a high number of ungulates that interact in different territorial scenarios, including urban agglomerations located in the flat zone, agricultural areas in the central-northern part and forested areas in the northern part of Mugello. This article looks at the way the number of ungulates is directly related to human activities in a specific territory. This contributes to the literature by providing useful information to stakeholders for future planning and wildlife management in agricultural areas within the limits of sustainability. Moreover, the social and economic implications are significant, especially considering such agricultural areas are at risk of being damaged by the presence of ungulates. The result of the analysis has validated the use of GWR, highlighting the relationship of selected variables and the number of ungulates.
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The discrete choice experiment is a widely used methodology in consumer studies. However, applying this method to investigate the market of products sold in a wide price range could ...present issues as to the quality of the estimate of preferences. In fact, for this type of product, frequently consumers may have different behaviours when faced with different price levels. For example, some market segments may refrain from purchasing products below certain price thresholds, considering them of an unacceptable quality, while others choose only below certain prices. To work around this problem area, we propose a methodology in which each respondent declares his own price interval of reference and consequently participates in a choice experiment with a price vector coherent with his habits. In this manner, we are able to grasp and include in the estimations the heterogeneity of consumers with respect to price and thus obtain more accurate willingness to pay estimates.
•The method describes a procedure to bypass issues related to identifying the price vector in discrete choice experiments that involve products sold in a wide price range.•We propose a discrete choice experiment with different price vectors for consumer segments with different price preferences.
The amount of food sold online is increasing, but it accounts for a small share of total e-commerce. In this study, we investigate the factors that influence individuals' likelihood to buy food ...online. Applying a logit model to a sample of 34,488 respondents who participated in the Italian National Institute of Statistics multipurpose survey ‘Aspects of Italian Daily Life’, we explore the effects of socio-demographics and situational factors. We found that the food-online consumer is likely to be a young, well-educated, female, living in a small family, with a very good or adequate overall economic condition. Among situational factors, working time, being obese, having health problems, and practising a sport regularly positively affect the probability to buy food online. Surprisingly, distance from brick-and-mortar stores and car possession are not predictors of online shopping. These findings can support marketers and retailers in defining their marketing strategies and enhance the knowledge of this emerging food market.
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•Socio-demographic traits and situational factors influence e-grocery shopping.•Smaller households are more likely to buy food online.•Obese individuals and people with poor health are likely to buy food online.•The distance from the stores does not influence the choice to buy food online.
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