Editorial

6 pages, 206 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Prospects, Challenges and Sustainability of the Agri-Food Supply Chain in the New Global Economy II

by Dimitris Skalkos

Sustainability 2023, 15(16), 12558; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151612558 - 18 Aug 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3690

In the new global era, the process “from farm to fork” as a holistic approach to the production and consumption of food will become a key factor for the sustainability and progress of the food industry [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prospects Challenges and Sustainability of the Agri-Food Supply Chain in the New Global Economy II)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

19 pages, 1997 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Insect-Based Feed Acceptance amongst Consumers and Farmers in Ireland: A Pilot Study

by Leocardia Ranga, Francesco Noci, Ana P. Vale and Maria Dermiki

Sustainability 2023, 15(14), 11006; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151411006 - 13 Jul 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1677

Abstract

The potential of insect-based feed (IBF) as a sustainable alternative to conventional animal feed is widely reported, yet there is extremely limited information on its acceptance in Ireland, a country with a strong farming background. Therefore, this study aims to provide baseline data [...] Read more.

The potential of insect-based feed (IBF) as a sustainable alternative to conventional animal feed is widely reported, yet there is extremely limited information on its acceptance in Ireland, a country with a strong farming background. Therefore, this study aims to provide baseline data on factors affecting acceptance of IBF amongst a segment of consumers and farmers in Ireland. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected amongst 233 consumers, 73 of which were farmers. Non-parametric statistical tests revealed that the willingness to consume foods from animals fed with IBF depends on the type of food and is affected by a combination of consumer- and product-related factors. Consumers’ age, gender, diet, and education level, the foods’ packaging information, safety, and price, and whether insects are part of an animal’s natural diet or environmentally friendly had a significant effect. Safety concern regarding use of IBF was the main factor affecting farmers’ willingness to use it. Qualitative findings revealed concerns emanating from the bovine spongiform encephalopathy outbreak and a general need for more information. Accordingly, information on the benefits of using IBF increased its acceptance. Thus, IBF acceptance might depend on dedicated educational interventions which include addressing the safety aspect of the feed even among those with higher level of education. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prospects Challenges and Sustainability of the Agri-Food Supply Chain in the New Global Economy II)

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18 pages, 658 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Livestock Farmers’ Attitudes towards Alternative Proteins

by Chloe Crawshaw and Jared Piazza

Sustainability 2023, 15(12), 9253; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15129253 - 08 Jun 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1964

Abstract

New food technologies such as cultured meat, precision fermentation, and plant-based alternatives may one day supplant traditional modes of animal farming. Nonetheless, very little is known about how traditional animal farmers perceive these new products, despite being directly impacted by their advance. The [...] Read more.

New food technologies such as cultured meat, precision fermentation, and plant-based alternatives may one day supplant traditional modes of animal farming. Nonetheless, very little is known about how traditional animal farmers perceive these new products, despite being directly impacted by their advance. The present study explored the views of livestock farmers regarding emerging protein alternatives. We used a comparison group of omnivorous non-farmers as a frame of reference. Forty-five UK-based livestock farmers and fifty-three non-farmers read an informative vignette about emerging food technologies that reviewed their advantages vis-à-vis intensive animal agriculture. Afterwards, participants rated four products (plant-based burgers; plant-based milk alternatives; cultured beef; animal-free dairy milk) in terms of their personal appeal and how much they represented a positive change to the market. Participants furthermore voiced their agreement or disagreement towards 26 statements representing potential facilitators or barriers to product acceptance. Overall, farmers rated the four products less appealing and less beneficial to the industry compared to non-farmers. Positive change ratings tended to be higher than personal appeal ratings for all products. Both groups tended to agree that the alternatives offered advantages, particularly for the environment, resource use, food security, and animal treatment, though agreement rates were lower for farmers. Farmers tended to perceive more barriers to acceptance than non-farmers, with ‘threat to farmers’ and ‘lack of support to local farmers’ of paramount concern to both groups. These findings highlight how farmers’ attitudes towards alternative proteins are mixed and, ultimately, shaped by the perceived vulnerability of farming communities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prospects Challenges and Sustainability of the Agri-Food Supply Chain in the New Global Economy II)

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20 pages, 1952 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Professional Training in Beekeeping: A Cross-Country Survey to Identify Learning Opportunities

by Raquel P. F. Guiné, Jorge Oliveira, Catarina Coelho, Daniela Teixeira Costa, Paula Correia, Helena Esteves Correia, Bjørn Dahle, Melissa Oddie, Risto Raimets, Reet Karise, Luis Tourino, Salvatore Basile, Emilio Buonomo, Ivan Stefanic and Cristina A. Costa

Sustainability 2023, 15(11), 8953; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15118953 - 01 Jun 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1345

Abstract

Habitat loss, climate change, and other environmental degradations pose severe challenges to beekeepers. Therefore, this sector needs to rely on updated information so that the intervening actors can deal with the problems. In this context, and assuming that professional training can greatly help [...] Read more.

Habitat loss, climate change, and other environmental degradations pose severe challenges to beekeepers. Therefore, this sector needs to rely on updated information so that the intervening actors can deal with the problems. In this context, and assuming that professional training can greatly help those acting in the beekeeping sector, this work intended to investigate the gaps in the updated knowledge of beekeepers and how these can be filled through lifelong learning. The research was conducted in seven European countries (Croatia, Estonia, Finland, Italy, Norway, Portugal, and Spain). The data were collected through a questionnaire survey translated into the native languages of all participating countries. The results revealed that the topics of highest interest are apiary health and pest control and the management of the colonies throughout the year. The beekeepers update their knowledge through family, complemented by professional training, with participants preferring in-person courses as well as, in the workplace or in internships. The learning methodologies they consider most useful are project-based learning and learning through gamification. The videos and paper books or manuals are particularly valued as learning materials, and practical exercises are considered the most helpful assessment format. Finally, considering the effect of sociodemographic variables on the learning experiences and preferences of beekeeping actors, it was observed that the country was the most influential of the variables under study. In conclusion, this work revealed valuable information that should be used to design professional training actions to help the professionals in the beekeeping sector enhance their competencies and be better prepared to manage their activities successfully. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prospects Challenges and Sustainability of the Agri-Food Supply Chain in the New Global Economy II)

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28 pages, 713 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Hazards in Products of Plant Origin Reported in the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) from 1998 to 2020

by Marcin Pigłowski and Magdalena Niewczas-Dobrowolska

Sustainability 2023, 15(10), 8091; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15108091 - 16 May 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1588

Abstract

The elimination or reduction of hazards in plants is an important part of the “From field to fork” strategy adopted in the European Green Deal, where a sustainable model is pursued in the food system. In the European Union (EU), the Rapid Alert [...] Read more.

The elimination or reduction of hazards in plants is an important part of the “From field to fork” strategy adopted in the European Green Deal, where a sustainable model is pursued in the food system. In the European Union (EU), the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) is in place to provide information on risks in the food chain. The largest number of notifications in this system concerns plants, followed by products of animal origin and other products. The goal of the study was to examine RASFF notifications for products of plant origin with respect to hazard, year, product, notifying country, origin country, notification type, notification basis, distribution status and actions taken in 1998–2020. Data were extracted from the RASFF notifications’ pre-2021 public information database. A cluster analysis using joining and the two-way joining method was applied. The notifications mainly concerned aflatoxins in pistachios from Iran, ochratoxin A in raisins from Turkey, pesticide residues in peppers from Turkey, okra, curry, rice from India, tea from China and India, and pathogenic micro-organisms in sesame from India, and also basil, mint and betel from Thailand, Vietnam and Lao Republic. To ensure the safety of food of plant origin, it is necessary to adhere to good agricultural and manufacturing practices, involve producers in the control of farmers, ensure proper transport conditions (especially from Asian countries), ensure that legislative bodies set and update hazard limits, and ensure their subsequent control by the authorities of EU countries. Due to the broad period and scope of the studies that have been carried out and the significance of the European Union in the food chain, the research results can improve global sustainability efforts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prospects Challenges and Sustainability of the Agri-Food Supply Chain in the New Global Economy II)

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17 pages, 3265 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Research and Development of a New Sustainable Functional Food under the Scope of Nutrivigilance

by Irina Mihaela Matran, Monica Tarcea, Diana Carmen Rus, Rares Voda, Daniela-Lucia Muntean and Daniela Cirnatu

Sustainability 2023, 15(9), 7634; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15097634 - 06 May 2023

Viewed by 1191

Abstract

Background: The New Global Economy is represented by a series of major features, such as the use of green energy, the reduction of the carbon footprint in all industrial and civil fields, as well as finding alternative food resources. Our main objective was [...] Read more.

Background: The New Global Economy is represented by a series of major features, such as the use of green energy, the reduction of the carbon footprint in all industrial and civil fields, as well as finding alternative food resources. Our main objective was the research of a sustainable food product with a special nutritional purpose in the vision of nutrivigilance, developed in Romania, as an adjuvant in the repair of gastric mucosa. Methods: The materials used in the research and development of the new food are the following: inulin, lactoferrin, sericin, and sodium bicarbonate. The new adjuvant food product in the repair of the gastric mucosa was added to certain foods in order to prevent the patients from being satiated by a single food from a sensory point of view. The resulting food products were organoleptically and physico-chemically analyzed. Results: The new food is sustainable and has versatile uses. It can be hydrated with water, non-carbonated drinks, mixed with cottage cheese, or with fruit puree and oatmeal. It is stable under normal storage conditions and microbiologically safe. Conclusions: Through its versatile use, the new food product for special nutritional conditions represents a worldwide novelty. Through the development of forestry for the cultivation of white or black mulberry (Morus alba and Morus nigra), the raising of silkworms (Bombyx mori), the processing of fibroin to obtain natural silk and the processing of sericin resulting as a residue in the textile industry, the new food product developed actively contribute to the global economy II. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prospects Challenges and Sustainability of the Agri-Food Supply Chain in the New Global Economy II)

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18 pages, 306 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Greek Semi-Hard and Hard Cheese Consumers’ Perception in the New Global Era

by Dimitris Skalkos, Katerina Bamicha, Ioanna S. Kosma and Elpida Samara

Sustainability 2023, 15(7), 5825; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15075825 - 27 Mar 2023

Viewed by 1249

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic is almost over but has already left its mark and is changing the world fast and drastically in all social, economic, and cultural aspects of humanity, including consumers’ choices and motives for foods. Since cheese is a major dietary food [...] Read more.

The COVID-19 pandemic is almost over but has already left its mark and is changing the world fast and drastically in all social, economic, and cultural aspects of humanity, including consumers’ choices and motives for foods. Since cheese is a major dietary food consumed daily worldwide, motives for its purchase and consumption in the new era are an important parameter affecting current and future production and sustainable regional development. The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on Greek consumers’ motives for quality semi-hard and hard cheese, including the “Ladotyri” hard cheese. Consumers’ motives were tested using variables of quality semi-hard and hard cheese, such as purchase and consumption, preference of choice, preference, and knowledge of the Ladotyri cheese. A self-response questionnaire survey was carried out in November and December 2022 on a sample of 860 participants, the majority being young people aged 18–25 (83.9%), through the Google platform. Basic statistical tools, combined with cross and chi-square tests, were used to analyze the collected data. The results indicate no significant changes in consumers’ motives except a significant decline in consumption, reaching up to 8.4%. Consumers continue to purchase the semi-hard and hard cheese from the supermarket (90%), with preference for the most known kinds, such as kasseri and graviera, consuming it at home (90.9%), daily (31.8%), or two times per week (38.3%), primarily with bread and olives (57.6%), followed by meat (53%). Price remains the most important information for the selection of semi-hard and hard cheese (73.5%), taste (97%) among the organoleptic parameters, texture (70.9%) among the appearance parameters, origin of milk (63.9%) among the sustainable parameters, and value for money (85.8%) among the general characteristics of the cheese. The participants expressed similar motives for the “Ladotyri” Mytilinis hard cheese, appreciating the olive oil combined with the cheese (79.7%) and the possible production as a non-refrigerated cheese (65.2%), even though the majority of them would not buy it today (57.4%). Our findings indicate that the sustainability and growth of the quality semi-hard and hard cheese in the new era should stick to the good practices of production, promotion, and sales developed before the pandemic, exploring, however, new avenues and practices to increase consumption, which is currently declining. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prospects Challenges and Sustainability of the Agri-Food Supply Chain in the New Global Economy II)

12 pages, 2239 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainable Ring-Opening Reactions of Epoxidized Linseed Oil in Heterogeneous Catalysis

by Andrei Iulian Slabu, Ionut Banu, Octavian Dumitru Pavel, Florina Teodorescu and Raluca Stan

Sustainability 2023, 15(5), 4197; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15054197 - 25 Feb 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1939

Abstract

In this study, renewable products with potentially interesting properties and applications were synthesized by functionalizing linseed oil via epoxidation and epoxy ring-opening with carboxylic acids and anhydrides. LDHs (Layered Double Hydroxides), a well-known class of materials used for a wide range of reactions, [...] Read more.

In this study, renewable products with potentially interesting properties and applications were synthesized by functionalizing linseed oil via epoxidation and epoxy ring-opening with carboxylic acids and anhydrides. LDHs (Layered Double Hydroxides), a well-known class of materials used for a wide range of reactions, are the catalysts used in this study, with the overall advantages of facile separation and reusability. In our study, different types of carboxylic acids and anhydrides were employed as reactants with the advantage of leading to sustainable products that can replace petrochemical compounds. Following the optimization of the reaction conditions, including the basicity of the catalyst, at 170 °C a quasi-total conversion of the epoxy groups was achieved for all the ring-opening reagents. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prospects Challenges and Sustainability of the Agri-Food Supply Chain in the New Global Economy II)

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19 pages, 365 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Investigation of the Level of Knowledge in Different Countries about Edible Insects: Cluster Segmentation

by Raquel P. F. Guiné, Sofia G. Florença, Cristina A. Costa, Paula M. R. Correia, Manuela Ferreira, Ana P. Cardoso, Sofia Campos, Ofélia Anjos, Cristina Chuck-Hernández, Marijana Matek Sarić, Ilija Djekic, Maria Papageorgiou, José M. F. Baro, Malgorzata Korzeniowska, Maša Černelič-Bizjak, Elena Bartkiene, Monica Tarcea, Nada M. Boustani, Dace Klava and Emel Damarli

Sustainability 2023, 15(1), 450; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15010450 - 27 Dec 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2128

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the level of knowledge about edible insects (EIs) in a sample of people from thirteen countries (Croatia, Greece, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, and Turkey). Data collection was based on a questionnaire survey [...] Read more.

This study aimed to investigate the level of knowledge about edible insects (EIs) in a sample of people from thirteen countries (Croatia, Greece, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, and Turkey). Data collection was based on a questionnaire survey applied through online tools between July and November 2021. For data analysis, techniques such as factor analysis, cluster analysis, and chi-square tests were used, with a significance level of 5%. A total of 27 items were used to measure knowledge on a five-point Likert scale. Applying factor analysis with principal components and Varimax rotation, a solution that explains about 55% of variance was obtained. This accounts for four factors that retained 22 of the 27 initial items: F1 = Sustainability (8 items), F2 = Nutrition (8 items), F3 = Production Factors (2 items), and F4 = Health Concerns (4 items). Internal consistency was evaluated through Cronbach’s alpha. The cluster analysis consisted of the application of hierarchical methods followed by k-means and produced three clusters (1—‘fearful’, 2—‘farming,’ and 3—‘ecological’ individuals). The characterisation of the clusters revealed that age did not influence cluster membership, while sex, education, country, living environment, professional area, and income all influenced the composition of the clusters. While participants from Mexico and Spain were fewer in the ‘fearful’ cluster, in those from Greece, Latvia, Lebanon, and Turkey, the situation was opposed. Participants from rural areas were mostly in cluster 2, which also included a higher percentage of participants with lower income. Participants from professional areas linked with biology, food, and nutrition were mostly in cluster 3. In this way, we concluded that the level of knowledge about EIs is highly variable according to the individual characteristics, namely that the social and cultural influences of the different countries lead to distinct levels of knowledge and interpretation of information, thus producing divergent approaches to the consumption of insects—some more reluctant and measuring possible risks. In contrast, others consider EIs a good and sustainable protein-food alternative. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prospects Challenges and Sustainability of the Agri-Food Supply Chain in the New Global Economy II)

16 pages, 2190 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Is Contract Farming with Modern Distributors Partnership for Higher Returns? Analysis of Rice Farm Households in Taiwan

by Ming-Feng Hsieh and Yir-Hueih Luh

Sustainability 2022, 14(22), 15188; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142215188 - 16 Nov 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1385

Abstract

This study provides empirical evidence of the economic effect of contract farming for the agriculture sector dominated by smallholder farms. In light of the association between contract farming and modern food distribution channels, we categorize the adoption decisions of contract farming and modern [...] Read more.

This study provides empirical evidence of the economic effect of contract farming for the agriculture sector dominated by smallholder farms. In light of the association between contract farming and modern food distribution channels, we categorize the adoption decisions of contract farming and modern marketing channels into four mutually exclusive choices and investigate their economic effects through the simulated maximum likelihood estimation of the multinomial treatment effects model. The results provide empirical evidence supporting higher returns from the dual partnerships as choosing modern distributors generates more revenues for the those participating in contract farming than for those with no contract farming, and contract farming is more likely to help generate more revenues for those who have taken modern distributors as their major marketing channel compared with those relying on traditional channels. Moreover, we examine whether any distributional pattern of marginal economic effects, of either contract farming or modern marketing channel, is present among farmers at various scales by using the conditional and unconditional quantile regression models. Our findings suggest that the marginal treatment effects are generally in an increasing trend as the quantile increases, implying that the economic effects of contract farming or partnership with modern distributors are more pronounced for higher returns among rice farmers in Taiwan. This finding has great policy implications for developing sustainable agriculture and food supply when facing greater uncertainties due to global warming in the future, especially in an agriculture sector with most smallholder farmers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prospects Challenges and Sustainability of the Agri-Food Supply Chain in the New Global Economy II)

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17 pages, 1339 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Chemometric Screening of Oregano Essential Oil Composition and Properties for the Identification of Specific Markers for Geographical Differentiation of Cultivated Greek Oregano

by Eleftheria S. Tsoumani, Ioanna S. Kosma and Anastasia V. Badeka

Sustainability 2022, 14(22), 14762; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142214762 - 09 Nov 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1400

Abstract

The present study investigated the potential interconnection between the place of cultivation of Greek oregano samples and the composition and properties of their essential oils (EOs). In addition, it attempted to identify characteristic chemical features that could differentiate between geographical origins with the [...] Read more.

The present study investigated the potential interconnection between the place of cultivation of Greek oregano samples and the composition and properties of their essential oils (EOs). In addition, it attempted to identify characteristic chemical features that could differentiate between geographical origins with the use of chemometric tools. To this end, a total of 142 samples of commercially available Greek oregano (Origanum vulgare ssp. hirtum) plants harvested during the calendar years 2017–2018 were obtained for this study. The samples came from five different geographical areas of Greece and represented twelve localities. After appropriate processing, the oregano samples were subjected to hydrodistillation (HD), and the resulting EOs were analyzed for their total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant activity, and chemical composition. The acquired data were subjected to the chemometric methods of multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) to investigate the potential of classifying the oregano samples in terms of geographical origin. In addition, stepwise LDA (SLDA) was used as a final step to narrow down the number of variables and identify those wielding the highest discriminatory power (marker compounds). Carvacrol was identified as the most abundant component in the majority of samples, with a content ranging from 28.74% to 68.79%, followed by thymol, with a content ranging from 7.39% to 35.22%. The TPC values, as well as the Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) values, showed no significant variations among the samples, ranging from 74.49 ± 3.57 mg GAE/g EO to 89.03 ± 4.76 mg GAE/g EO, and from 306.83 ± 5.01 μmol TE/g EO to 461.32 ± 7.27 μmol TE/g EO, respectively. The application of the cross-validation method resulted in high correct classification rates in both geographical groups studied (93.3% and 82.7%, respectively), attesting to a strong correlation between location and oregano EO composition. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prospects Challenges and Sustainability of the Agri-Food Supply Chain in the New Global Economy II)

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11 pages, 623 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Bioactivity of Grape Skin from Small-Berry Muscat and Augustiatis of Samos: A Circular Economy Perspective for Sustainability

by Afroditi Michalaki, Elpida Niki Iliopoulou, Angeliki Douvika, Constantina Nasopoulou, Dimitris Skalkos and Haralabos Christos Karantonis

Sustainability 2022, 14(21), 14576; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142114576 - 06 Nov 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1650

Abstract

Consumer interest in health-promoting foods has prompted researchers to use wine by-products to increase food’s functional characteristics. This research aims to examine the skin bioactivities of Samos white (small-berry Muscat) and red (Augustiatis) grape skin extracts (M-GSkE, A-GSkE). Total phenolic content, antiradical activity, [...] Read more.

Consumer interest in health-promoting foods has prompted researchers to use wine by-products to increase food’s functional characteristics. This research aims to examine the skin bioactivities of Samos white (small-berry Muscat) and red (Augustiatis) grape skin extracts (M-GSkE, A-GSkE). Total phenolic content, antiradical activity, the inhibition of plasma oxidation and platelet aggregation, and the phenolic profile were examined. A-GSkE and M-GSkE showed high total phenolics (1.19 ± 0.13 vs. 2.12 ± 0.23 mM GAE), antiradical activity (7.7 ± 0.4 vs. 6.6 ± 0.3 μM GAE for ABTS; 31.12 ± 0.8 vs. 26.4 ± 1.0 μM GAE for DPPH), resistance to plasma oxidation (5.7 ± 0.4 vs. 1.1 ± 0.2 μM GAE), and antithrombotic activity (19.7 ± 0.1 vs. 26.6 ± 0.2 μM GAE). Ferulic (41.3 ± 0.1 > 13.2 ± 0.1 μg/g DM), vanillic (26.3 ± 1.7 > 12.2 ± 1.2 μg/g DM), and gallic (16.6 ± 0.1 > 8.4 ± 2.9 μg/g DM) acids along with ε-viniferin (3.6 ± 0.4 > 2.8 ± 0.3 μg/g DM) were identified in higher content in A-GSkE. Catechin (59.8 ± 1.5 μg/g DM), chlorogenic acid (43.8 ± 0.9 μg/g DM), and resveratrol (0.83 ± 0.13 μg/g DM) were identified only in M-GSkE, while caffeic acid 19.8 ± 0.4 μg/g DM) and daidzein (16.8 ± 0.1 μg/g DM) were identified only in A-GSkE. The specialized bioactivities researched in two previously unexplored Samos’ wine grape skin extracts give them added value. The valorization of such by-products promises a sustainable future in the food sector of local communities and an improvement in local public health. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prospects Challenges and Sustainability of the Agri-Food Supply Chain in the New Global Economy II)

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Review

Jump to: Editorial, Research

16 pages, 337 KiB

Open AccessReview

Exploring the Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Food Choice Motives: A Systematic Review

by Dimitris Skalkos and Zoi C. Kalyva

Sustainability 2023, 15(2), 1606; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15021606 - 13 Jan 2023

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3532

Abstract

The economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has effected the global economy, with the main changes expected to affect human life in the future, including food consumption. However, could this pandemic be assumed as a threshold for the suspension of the usual [...] Read more.

The economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has effected the global economy, with the main changes expected to affect human life in the future, including food consumption. However, could this pandemic be assumed as a threshold for the suspension of the usual rules behind food choices? This review highlights the changes in food choice motivations before, during, and after the pandemic that have been reported in the literature to date to answer the research question on the changes in food choice motives caused by the pandemic to consumers worldwide. The review comes up with ten key food motives important for consumers, namely health, convenience, sensory appeal, nutritional quality, moral concerns, weight control, mood and anxiety, familiarity, price, and shopping frequency behavior; these motives continue to be significant in the post-pandemic era. Our findings indicate that it is too premature to give definite answers as to what food choice motives in the post-COVID-19 era will be like. Consumers’ perceptions and attitudes toward food in the new era are contradictory, depending on the country of the study, the average age, and the sex of the study group. These controversial results illustrate that, for food consumption, motives depend on the population being searched, with changes identified occurring in two directions. The definite answers will be given in three to five years when the new conditions will be clear and a number of studies will have been published. Even though it is too early to fully understand the definite food choice motive changes, defining a “new” index of consumer satisfaction is necessary since it can alter the food sale strategies of retail managers, food companies, and the other parties involved in the agri-food chain. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prospects Challenges and Sustainability of the Agri-Food Supply Chain in the New Global Economy II)

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