Consumer attitudes towards sustainability attributes on food labels

With current concerns about climate change and the general status of the environment, there is an increasing expectation that products have sustainability credentials, and that these can be verified. Labelling is a common method of communicating certain product attributes to consumers that may influence their choices. There are different types of labels with several functions. The aim of this study is to investigate consumers‟ purchase decisions towards certain sustainability claims on food products, particularly by displaying the reduction of carbon emissions. Choice outcomes will be evaluated using Discrete Choice Modelling (DCM). Data for the study is obtained by a web-based consumer survey undertaken in the United Kingdom (UK). Results provide information on different attributes effects on consumers‟ purchase decisions, particularly their willingness to pay. This study provides information on consumers‟ attitudes that will assist industries and firms to benefit from market opportunities, in particular assessing the methods by which carbon footprinting measures can be incorporated alongside information on other sustainability criteria in product marketing.food labeling, carbon footprint, discrete choice modeling, Agribusiness, Agricultural and Food Policy, Consumer/Household Economics, Environmental Economics and Policy, Food Security and Poverty, Health Economics and Policy,

Consumer Attitudes towards Sustainability Attributes on Food Labels

Concerns about climate change and the general status of the environment have increased expectation that food products have sustainability credentials, and that these can be verified. There are significant and increasing pressures in key export markets for information on Greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity of products throughout its life-cycle. How this information is conveyed to consumers is a key issue. Labelling is a common method of communicating certain product attributes to consumers that may influence their choices. In a choice experiment concerning fruit purchase decisions, this study estimates willingness to pay for sustainability attributes by consumers in Japan and the UK. The role of label presentation format is investigated: text only, text and graphical, and graphical only. Results indicate that sustainability attributes influence consumers’ fruit purchase decisions. Reduction of carbon in fruit production is shown to be the least valued out of sustainability attributes considered. Differences are evident between presentation formats and between countries, with increased nutrient content being the most sensitive to format and country while carbon reduction is the most insensitive and almost always valued the least.Willingness to pay, Choice experiment, Food labelling, Sustainability, Cross-country comparison, Agricultural and Food Policy, Consumer/Household Economics, Environmental Economics and Policy, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Q18, Q51, Q56,

Absorption cross section of RN and SdS extremal black hole

The nature of scalar wave functions near the horizon of Reissner Nordstrom (RN) extremal and Schwarzschild-de Sitter (SdS) extremal black holes are found using WKB approximation and the effect of reflection of waves from the horizon. The absorption cross section $\sigma_{abs}$ when RN extremal and SdS extremal black holes placed in a Klein-Gordon field is calculated.Comment: 11 pages, Preprint to IJMP

Syndrome de Miller Fisher avec anticorps anti GQ1b négatif au cours d’une pneumonie à Mycoplasma pneumoniae

Le Syndrome de Miller Fisher est caractérisé par l'association d'une ophtalmoplégie, d'une ataxie et d'une aréflexie ostéo-tendineuse. Une infection virale est le plus souvent retrouvée dans les jours ou semaines qui précèdent la symptomatologie. Nous rapportons un cas de syndrome de Miller Fisher survenu chez une femme de 75 ans, et ce au décours d'une infection pulmonaire à Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Les sérologies virales habituelles étaient négatives. Les anticorps anti GQ1b étaient absents. Il n'y avait pas de lésion du tronc cérébral à l'imagerie par résonnance magnétique. L'évolution clinique était favorable après perfusion d'immunoglobulines humaines polyvalentes et des macrolides en comprimés. La sérologie Mycoplasma pneumoniae doit être systématiquement recherchée dans le bilan du syndrome de Miller Fisher.Key words: Syndrome de Miller Fisher, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, ganglioside GQ1

Risorse agroforestali e sviluppo nella VIII Comunità montana Marghine-Planargia

In questo lavoro è stato dato largo spazio allo studio del settore agricolo dell'VIII Comunità Montana. Esso rappresenta un campo d'indagine, forse il primo da approfondire data l'importanza che tale attività riveste nel territorio. Sono stati richiamati i problemi legati all'assetto del capitale fondiario e, nella Comunità, il particolare problema dei rapporti fra proprietà ed affitto non si discosta dal panorama complessivo sardo e nazionale

New Zealand food and beverage consumer preferences for product attributes and alternative retailers, and in-market use of digital media and smart technology

While much of New Zealand’s primary products are exported, it is still important to understand how domestic consumers value the attributes of food and beverage products, including willingness-to-pay (WTP) for particular product attributes, and use digital media and smart technologies to access information and purchasing food and beverage products. In response to this, firstly a literature review of New Zealand consumer preferences, WTP and technology use was carried out. Secondly, a survey of approximately 1,400 New Zealand consumers was undertaken examining preferences and WTP for credence attributes and their associated factors, attitudes to and use of alternative retailers, and digital media and smart technology use in relation to food and beverages. These results are compared with an overseas study to gain relative insight into the New Zealand market. A distinct difference between New Zealand and international consumers is observed across all factors examined. These results imply that a New Zealand-centric view of international consumers may lead to an underestimation of the potential value that could be captured in international markets

Consumer attitudes towards sustainability attributes on food labels

Concerns about climate change and the general status of the environment have increased expectation that food products have sustainability credentials, and that these can be verified. There are significant and increasing pressures in key export markets for information on Greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity of products throughout its life-cycle. How this information is conveyed to consumers is a key issue. Labelling is a common method of communicating certain product attributes to consumers that may influence their choices. In a choice experiment concerning fruit purchase decisions, this study estimates willingness to pay for sustainability attributes by consumers in Japan and the UK. The role of label presentation format is investigated: text only, text and graphical, and graphical only. Results indicate that sustainability attributes influence consumers’ fruit purchase decisions. Reduction of carbon in fruit production is shown to be the least valued out of sustainability attributes considered. Differences are evident between presentation formats and between countries, with increased nutrient content being the most sensitive to format and country while carbon reduction is the most insensitive and almost always valued the least