Identifying Transition Capacity for Agri-food Regimes: Application of the Multi-level Perspective for Strategic Mapping

In this paper, agri-food systems are discussed in the context of a set of socio-technical transitions principles, with a focus on energy, materials and practice elements that have the potential to promote sustainable outcomes across the system. This paper aims to develop an integrated approach for regime analysis, informed by emerging knowledge on socio-technical transitions. The application of the multi-level perspective (MLP) as a heuristic framework to structure descriptions of the multi-dimensional transition contexts of contemporary agri-food regimes is explored. To do this, the paper aims to elaborate the MLP by proposing an integrated means through which complex transition dynamics can be mapped across: (a) energy and material flows and (b) social practices which shape, direct and determine these energy and material flows. This approach is labelled strategic regime mapping (SRM). The paper forwards insights from the development of SRM and discusses the role of strategic mapping of key points across the regime. By combining insight on the conceptualization of dynamic and globally interconnected socio-technical systems with specific observations on contemporary agri-food systems, the paper provides insight into the mapping of transition capacity across agri-food systems, as well as highlighting the significant challenges associated with such an undertaking

Testing the effect of descriptive dynamic social norm messages on meatless food purchases in Aotearoa New Zealand and UK university food outlets

A reduction in meat consumption is urgently needed to address multiple harms related to the environment, animal welfare, and human health. Social norm interventions have been found to be feasible and effective at shifting consumer behaviour, however, evidence related to meat reduction behaviour is limited – especially in naturalistic settings. Two social norm interventions were conducted at university food outlets in Aotearoa New Zealand and in the UK, to assess the effect of social norm messages on meat and meatless food purchases. Both interventions consisted of a week-long intervention phase during which descriptive dynamic social norm messages referring to reduced meat intake were displayed in the food outlets (study one and two) and via social media (study two). Meat and meatless food purchases during the interventions were compared to pre- and post-intervention weeks. Surveys were also conducted with a sub-group of customers to assess demographics, dietary habits, and awareness of the social norm message. In both studies, there was no significant effect of the social norm interventions on meat or meatless food purchases, and awareness of the norms message across both studies was low. These findings indicate that social norm interventions alone may be ineffective in encouraging meat reduction. Implications for interventions to reduce meat intake to support pro-environmental food choices are discussed

Food waste in Australia and New Zealand

This chapter reviews the existing food waste research in Australia and New Zealand. It then examines the history and development of food waste policy in Australia and New Zealand, the drivers and composition of food waste in New Zealand, along with the economic and social impacts and what potential interventions might be helpful. This includes highlighting the potential of information campaigns, voluntary agreements and valorisation as possible future food waste reduction actions

Biocide use in the beverage industry: Consumers’ knowledge and label preferences relating to the need and usefulness of biocides with particular reference to dairy beverage products in New Zealand and China

Biocides, in the form of sanitisers and disinfectants, are used extensively to reduce the risk of microbial contamination to beverage products and to ensure the safety of potable water used in processing. To better understand consumers’ perceptions of biocide use and to explore messaging strategies regarding their importance to ensure product safety, eight focus groups were conducted in New Zealand (n = 4) and China (n = 4). Consumers generally did not understand why or how biocides were used. In both countries, their most trustworthy source of information on biocide use was government sources. New Zealand and Chinese participants did not like the word “biocide” mentioned on labels due to its perceived negative connotations. Interestingly, acceptance for the word was higher if the phrase “environmentally friendly” was simultaneously communicated. The findings from this study have provided the beverage industry with guidance on how best to initiate conversations with consumers on the use of biocides

The Implications of COVID-19 on Chinese Consumer Preferences for Lamb Meat

This study assessed if Chinese consumer attitudes towards a range of lamb attributes (such as origin, food safety, appearance, taste, price), and their opinions of New Zealand lamb (9- and 7-point Likert scales, respectively), had changed since the outbreak COVID-19. The same survey was carried out in Shanghai and Beijing pre (December 2018) and post COVID-19 (November 2020), ~9 months after China’s initial outbreak, with 500 and 523 consumers, respectively. From December 2018 to November 2020, there was an increase in the proportion of Chinese consumers purchasing red meat online or from a butcher, and cooking their lamb well-done. In contrast, there were minimal differences in Chinese consumer ratings between December 2018 and November 2020 for different lamb attributes and opinions of New Zealand lamb. Cluster analysis revealed that many consumers (140 in December 2018/376 in November 2020) used only a small portion of the high end of the scale when rating lamb attributes, resulting in little differences between the attributes. This study suggests COVID-19 has enhanced some food safety related behaviors but had little effect on Chinese opinions and preferences for New Zealand lamb attributes. It also highlights that survey design should be carefully considered when collecting responses from Chinese consumers.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Identifying transition capacity for agri-food regimes: application of the multi-level perspective for strategic mapping

In this paper, agri-food systems are discussed in the context of a set of socio-technical transitions principles, with a focus on energy, materials and practice elements that have the potential to promote sustainable outcomes across the system. This paper aims to develop an integrated approach for regime analysis, informed by emerging knowledge on socio-technical transitions. The application of the multi-level perspective (MLP) as a heuristic framework to structure descriptions of the multi-dimensional transition contexts of contemporary agri-food regimes is explored. To do this, the paper aims to elaborate the MLP by proposing an integrated means through which complex transition dynamics can be mapped across: (a) energy and material flows and (b) social practices which shape, direct and determine these energy and material flows. This approach is labelled strategic regime mapping (SRM). The paper forwards insights from the development of SRM and discusses the role of strategic mapping of key points across the regime. By combining insight on the conceptualization of dynamic and globally interconnected socio-technical systems with specific observations on contemporary agri-food systems, the paper provides insight into the mapping of transition capacity across agri-food systems, as well as highlighting the significant challenges associated with such an undertaking. © 2013 Taylor & Francis

Ethics of food waste

Recent reports indicate that 30 to 50 percent of all food produced for human consumption is wasted and not eaten by humans (FAO 2011; IME 2013). Thus individuals and businesses continue to make decisions that result in this massive amount of food waste (Pearson et al. 2013). Although food losses occur throughout the supply chain, in developing countries most of this is prior to purchase by consumers – mainly due to limited investment in efficient storage, transport, and processing infrastructure, whilst in industrialized countries most is wasted by consumers – mainly due to food being relatively abundant and economically cheap (FAO 2011). Thus the magnitude, pervasiveness, and persistence of food waste suggest that it remains a complicated issue. In order to investigate the ethical implications of the food waste issue, this chapter first considers the wider role of ethics in society (section 2) before moving on to discuss general ethical issues in relation to food (section 3). The case is made in these sections that an ethical food system would strive to supply all individuals with regular supply of a variety of healthy foods. Further, the production, distribution, and retailing would be carried out in an environmentally sustainable manner in which the welfare of animals is also upheld. In a more specific exploration of the ethics of food waste (section 4), it is suggested that food waste reduction is linked to reducing hunger, reducing obesity, and reducing environmental degradation. The links in each of these three areas are reviewed in turn. Responses to food waste are highlighted (section 5) prior to concluding comments (section 6)

Dairy purchase behaviors: Increasing understanding of Chinese consumers using a consumer involvement segmentation approach.

Understanding consumers' purchase behaviors is fundamental to the success of the dairy industry. With its economic importance, the Chinese market is critical to dairy producers in most countries around the world. However, understanding consumers in this market is particularly challenging, as these consumers often have a different relationship with dairy products than consumers elsewhere in the world, given the country's historical dairy-related scandals. This special relationship can be characterized by what consumer behavior researchers call "high involvement," indicating that Chinese dairy consumers often attempt to reduce the level of risk associated with buying dairy products. Surprisingly, although this relationship affects several important aspects of purchase behavior, examination of the concept of involvement in the dairy sector has not been widely considered. Of note, there is no understanding of how Chinese consumers vary in their involvement levels and their implications on their dairy purchase behaviors. Nor have there been involvement-based insights provided on how dairy companies can position their marketing strategy to suit the needs of these consumers better. Thus, this study proposes a new approach to understanding Chinese consumer dairy decisions by introducing "consumer involvement" as a segmentation tool through which individuals' behaviors can be predicated according to their involvement profile. Based on an online survey administered in Shanghai using 1,073 dairy consumers, principal component analysis confirmed involvement with dairy is a multidimensional construct with the following 4 factors: pleasure value, symbolic value, risk importance, and risk probability. A 2-step cluster analysis identified 4 consumer clusters based on their involvement profile: face-concerned dairy lover, carefree dairy consumer, cautious dairy lover, and confused dairy consumer. According to a one-way ANOVA test and cross-tabulation with χ2 test, these consumer segments behave differently in relation to the extensiveness of decision making, cue utilization, trust of information sources, and consumption behavior. The outcomes in this paper further explain why efforts to restore consumer trust for dairy products do not work among some consumers, as individuals may exhibit diverse attitudes toward such information due to their heterogeneous involvement levels. The study also provides suggestions for market practitioners and organizations to develop effective target market strategies and policies according to different consumer clusters

The attributes of leftovers and higher-order personal values

Pearson, DH ORCiD: 0000-0002-5374-7074Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the inter-relationships between peoples’ perceptions of the attributes of leftover food and how they lead to higher-order values in relation to food waste. Design/methodology/approach: The method involved an online, text-based, qualitative survey of 112 panel members from a market research firm. The data were examined using thematic analysis and framed using a means-end approach. Findings: Findings show that leftover foods take on both positive and negative attributes and benefits, as shown in four themes—tasty foods, dangerous foods, images of spoiling and used or second-hand—leading to consequences, identified as creating time, Time to binning and repurposing. Additionally, how individuals in a household speak of themselves based on their higher-order values, termed as states of being, can determine whether such foods are repurposed or consigned to the bin. These states of being are reflected in the three themes: the responsible ones, the virtuous ones and the blameless ones. Originality/value: This study provides more focussed insights on the interplay between the attributes and benefits of leftovers and how household members position themselves towards these foods, particularly in their transition to waste. © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited