scholarly journals Sustainable agri-food products: A review of consumer preference studies through experimental economics

2018 ◽  
Vol 64 (No. 12) ◽  
pp. 554-565 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucio CECCHINI ◽  
Biancamaria TORQUATI ◽  
Massimo CHIORRI
Keyword(s):  
Willingness To Pay ◽  
Experimental Economics ◽  
Consumer Choice ◽  
Consumer Preferences ◽  
Consumer Preference ◽  
Food Products ◽  
Sustainable Food ◽  
Additional Information ◽  
Premium Price ◽  
Increased Sensitivity

In the last few decades, the interest of consumers towards sustainable agri-food products has been growing. This trend reflects changes in the consumption patterns, which have been deeply influenced by the increased sensitivity concerning social and environmental issues. In this sense, several studies, with different methodological approaches, have investigated consumers’ willingness to pay and its determinants for products with different sustainability labels. To systematise the obtained results, this paper offers a review of the studies that used experimental economics in studying consumer preferences for sustainable food and agricultural products. The 41 studies included in the review were selected on the basis of the pre-identified criterion according to the systematic review approach. Albeit discordant, the results show that a large share of consumers is willing to pay a premium price for products with eco-friendly and organic certifications. Animal welfare, ‘local’ production, or social certification appear to have a lower influence on consumer choice of purchasing. Additional information is able to modify consumer expectations and consequentially their willingness to pay, depending on the individual’s responsibility and awareness.

scholarly journals The Willingness to Pay in the Food Sector. Testing the Hypothesis of Consumer Preferences for Some Made in Italy Products

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (15) ◽  
pp. 6275 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucio Cappelli ◽  
Fabrizio D’Ascenzo ◽  
Maria Felice Arezzo ◽  
Roberto Ruggieri ◽  
Irina Gorelova
Keyword(s):  
Willingness To Pay ◽  
Consumer Preferences ◽  
Value Systems ◽  
Specific Reference ◽  
Extensive Literature ◽  
Food Sector ◽  
Sustainable Food ◽  
Mass Consumption ◽  
Premium Price ◽  
Made In

Previous publications have shown that Italian consumers are willing to pay a premium price for certain categories of Made in Italy products. The premium price has proven to be higher in the food sector. This study provides an extensive literature review on the topic and aims to test a hypothesis regarding consumer preferences towards some Made in Italy food products of mass consumption (olive oil, meat and fish), with specific reference to the value systems that influence the purchase. This paper studies the correlation between the potential willingness to pay a premium price for the mentioned products and the characteristics of consumers’ sample. The results obtained confirm the willingness to pay for Made in Italy products and correlate the willingness to pay a premium price with the level of education of the respondents to the questionnaire. Thus, these findings show that consumers with a higher educational level tend to make more sustainable food choices and by doing so lean toward a sustainable lifestyle.

scholarly journals Consumer willingness to pay for plant-based foods produced using microbial applications to replace synthetic chemical inputs

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (12) ◽  
pp. e0260488
Author(s):  
Beshir M. Ali ◽  
Frederic Ang ◽  
H. J. van der Fels-Klerx
Keyword(s):  
Willingness To Pay ◽  
Food Choice ◽  
Latent Variable ◽  
Food Systems ◽  
Consumer Preferences ◽  
Food Products ◽  
Analysis Data ◽  
Plant Production ◽  
Wheat Bread ◽  
Sustainable Food

Analysis of consumer preferences and willingness-to-pay (WTP) for sustainable foods produced using new agri-food technologies is required to enhance the uptake of innovations that accelerate the transition towards sustainable food systems. Consumers’ willingness to buy new food products, with no or limited consumption experience, mainly depends on their food choice motivational orientations (promotion- vs prevention-orientation). The objective of this study was to elicit consumers’ WTP for foods that are produced with microbial applications during the plant production phase with the aim to reduce the use of synthetic chemicals in crop farming, as well as to understand the associations of food choice motives, personal and socio-demographic factors with the WTP. We used contingent valuation to elicit consumers’ WTP for three food products (wheat bread, consumer potatoes and tomato sauce) through online surveys. Data were collected from 291 consumers, primarily from Italy, Germany and the Netherlands. Descriptive statistics, latent variable modelling and logistic regression were used to analysis data. Results show that more than two-third of the respondents are willing to pay premiums of at least 0.11 euro per kg of food products for reductions in synthetic chemical use by at least 50% due to microbial applications. The amount of WTP increases with the level of reductions in synthetic chemical use. The majority of the respondents are promotion-oriented consumers in relation to their food involvement, and are more likely to pay premiums for the sustainably produced food products. Environmentally concerned consumers are also more likely to pay premiums, whereas health concerned consumers are not. This study contributes to understanding of consumers’ attitude and perceived health risks towards foods obtained using microbial applications, and the heterogeneity of their preferences. Results provide insights for identifying potential buyers of foods produced using microbial applications, and to set prices according to the levels of consumers’ WTP.

scholarly journals The Role of Credence Attributes in Consumer Choices of Sustainable Fish Products: A Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (23) ◽  
pp. 8
Author(s):  
Giulia Maesano ◽  
Giuseppe Di Vita ◽  
Gaetano Chinnici ◽  
Gioacchino Pappalardo ◽  
Mario D'Amico
Keyword(s):  
Willingness To Pay ◽  
Consumer Choice ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Taste Perception ◽  
Fish Welfare ◽  
Fish Products ◽  
Credence Attributes ◽  
Consumer Choices ◽  
Premium Price ◽  
By Catch

This review aims to assess consumer choices of sustainable fish products, considering a number of attributes that have been considered in the academic literature on this topic. In order to examine the effectiveness of sustainable labels, the research question was focused on the relation between sustainable fish labels and consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP). The findings showed how, overall, consumers have positive perceptions regarding sustainable fish products and show a willingness to pay a premium price for the attribute of sustainability. According to the results, the country of origin attribute was found to be the most important attribute in relation to consumer choice. The results indicated a high WTP for local fish products, relative to imported alternatives. Consumers prefer wild-caught fish for its perceived quality, better safety and health aspects, and taste perception than the farm-raised option. As for animal welfare, the results show that consumers are willing to pay a moderate premium price for products that have an improved fish welfare or those that avoid by-catch, such as products with eco-labels like “turtle safe”. With regard to organic labels, the studies identified a positive organic price premium for fish products. However, organic labels do not play a major role in consumer choice, when compared with other attributes.

scholarly journals Determining Consumer Perceptions of and Willingness to Pay for Appalachian Grass-Fed Beef: An Experimental Economics Approach

2011 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 233-250 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason R. Evans ◽  
Gerard E. D'Souza ◽  
Alan Collins ◽  
Brown Cheryl ◽  
Mark Sperow
Keyword(s):  
Willingness To Pay ◽  
Experimental Economics ◽  
Consumer Preferences ◽  
Consumer Perceptions ◽  
Market Potential ◽  
Price Premium ◽  
Nutritional Content ◽  
Appalachian Region ◽  
Experimental Auction ◽  
Auction Mechanism

The focus of the current study was on the market potential for grass-fed beef in the Appalachian region, given that these products embody observed, experiential, nutritional, and process attributes that may appeal to a large consumer base. An in-store variant of the Becker-DeGroot-Marschack experimental auction mechanism was employed in the region to determine consumer preferences and willingness to pay. A majority of respondents preferred the grass-fed product over conventional grain-fed samples and were willing to pay a price premium to obtain it. Preferences for grass-fed were rooted largely in the associated superior nutritional content and core observed attributes.

scholarly journals Consumer‟s preference towards organic food products

2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-23
Author(s):  
Rupesh Mervin M ◽  
Velmurugan R
Keyword(s):  
Consumer Preferences ◽  
Research Result ◽  
Research Work ◽  
Organic Food ◽  
Regulatory System ◽  
Consumer Preference ◽  
Food Products ◽  
Family Status ◽  
Monthly Income ◽  
Organic Products

The market of organic products is growing as the number of people willing to consume organic food and consumer preference towards organic food products is ever increasing. The promotion of organic food products constitutes an important option not only for producers, government and consumers but also to respond to societies‘ desire for higher food quality and food production that is less damaging to environment systems and improve the quality of life; this makes the study of consumer preferences highly important. The main purpose of this study is to identify the factors influencing consumer preferences toward organic products. The target population in this research includes consumers of Kozhikode district of Kerala state of India. By making use of convenience sampling method 750 respondents have been selected. Data required for the study have been collected with the help of questionnaire.The finding of the research work revealed that gender, age, occupation, monthly income, family status, level of awareness, state of health and environmental engagement are associated with consumer preference towards organic foods. The research work shows increasing monthly income and environment engagement activities influences consumer preference towards organic food products.There is an inverse relationship between consumer awareness and consumer preferences towards organic food. Organic food considered as healthy product and it is more preferred by the green consumers. The research result suggest that Government and social organizations have to promote organic farming at the households among general public and to take necessary steps for creating a regulatory system for authenticated organic certification and labeling in order to build-up the trust and confidence in consuming organic food products.

Applications of the Stochastic Multicriteria Acceptability Analysis Method for Consumer Preference Study

2017 ◽  
pp. 160-184
Author(s):  
Tadeusz Trzaskalik ◽  
Piotr Namieciński ◽  
Andrzej Bajdak ◽  
Slawomir Jarek
Keyword(s):  
Consumer Preferences ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Selection Process ◽  
Consumer Preference ◽  
New Product ◽  
Future Market ◽  
Essential Information ◽  
Additional Information ◽  
Market Shares ◽  
Potential Market

Introducing a new product to the market is a complex, costly and time-consuming process which requires research on consumer preferences. On the basis of information on the characteristics of the new product and its competitors, as well as on the competitors and their market shares, the company has to estimate future market shares and to determine the profile of potential consumers inclined to purchase the new product. The purpose of our paper is to present a method of consumer preference research when introducing a new product, using a multiple criteria method called Stochastic Multicriteria Acceptability Analysis (SMAA). To apply this method, no information requiring tedious research is needed. SMAA allows to obtain essential information on the potential market power of the new product already at an early stage of its preparation. Furthermore, the flexibility of the SMAA method allows to easily expand the scope of the analysis by including additional information and various techniques of the modeling of the consumer selection process.

scholarly journals Beyond cost saving. Other factor consideration in online purchases of used electronic goods: a conjoint analysis approach

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 1051-1063 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Adu Kwarteng ◽  
Michal Pilík ◽  
Eva Juřičková
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Cost Saving ◽  
Conjoint Analysis ◽  
Consumer Choice ◽  
Consumer Preferences ◽  
Consumer Preference ◽  
Online Purchases ◽  
Goods Market ◽  
Motivating Factor ◽  
Used Goods

Abstract The market for second-hand and refurbished goods continues to record strong growth in most economies around the world. One obvious motivating factor in consumer choice of second-hand goods is price affordability. However, as the used market evolves, especially with the adoption of online e-commerce platforms, consumers’ inclination for used goods have also become complex. This paper investigates other appealing factors beyond price affordability (cost saving) in consumer choice of usable electronic goods. To do this, a consumer preference model was designed to reveal the key factors that drive consumer choices in the used electronic goods market. A case study using an emerging economy (Czech Republic) where used goods outlets are rampant coupled with the propensity for used electronic gadgets. The study adopted a simple random technique geared towards all the regions in the Czech Republic. The aggregate conjoint analysis method was used to model consumer preferences to determine the importance they attach to attributes most considered by consumers in the online used goods transactions. The result indicates that in respect of online purchases of used electronic appliances, a product’s ‘number of years in use’ is the next most important motivating factor after cost saving (price affordability). The study would help give a general insight into consumer preferences in the used electronic goods market.

scholarly journals Clean Label Trade-Offs: A Case Study of Plain Yogurt

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Maruyama ◽  
Juyun Lim ◽  
Nadia A. Streletskaya
Keyword(s):  
Willingness To Pay ◽  
Consumer Choice ◽  
Food Industry ◽  
Latent Class ◽  
Corn Starch ◽  
Consumer Preferences ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Mixed Logit ◽  
Logit Analysis ◽  
Trade Offs

Consumer demand for clean label has risen in recent years. However, clean label foods with simple and minimalistic ingredient lists are often expensive to produce and/or may possess less desirable sensory qualities. Accordingly, understanding consumer preferences regarding the clean label trend would be of great interest to the food industry. Here we investigate how ingredient lists and associated sensory quality descriptions may influence consumer preferences using a hypothetical choice experiment. In particular, we test the impacts of four common stabilizers (carrageenan, corn starch, milk protein concentrate, and pectin) and textural characteristics on preferences and willingness to pay for plain yogurt. A total of 250 yogurt consumers participated in the study. The results of a mixed logit analysis suggest that clean labeling significantly increases the likelihood of consumer choice, while poor texture reduces consumer choice. More importantly, the negative impact of poor texture seems to be less significant for clean label yogurts compared to that for yogurts with longer ingredient lists. Among all stabilizers, corn starch in particular has a significant negative impact on consumer choice. The estimated average consumer willingness to pay for clean labels is between $2.54 and $3.53 for 32 oz yogurt formulations. Furthermore, clean labels minimize the negative impact of textural defects with consumers willing to pay an estimated premium of $1.61 for the family size yogurt with a simple ingredient list. Results of latent class modeling reveal two classes of consumers with similar patterns of demand who prefer clean labels and, on average, would rather purchase a yogurt with a textural defect than opt out of purchasing a yogurt entirely. Implications for the food industry are discussed.

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