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Australian Consumers’ Response to Insects as Food

Author

Listed:
  • Giovanni Sogari

    (Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy
    Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA)

  • Diana Bogueva

    (Curtin University Sustainability Policy Institute (CUSP), Curtin University, Perth 6102, Australia)

  • Dora Marinova

    (Curtin University Sustainability Policy Institute (CUSP), Curtin University, Perth 6102, Australia)

Abstract

Many research articles have been published about people’s perceptions and acceptance of eating insects as novel foods in Western countries; however, only a few studies have focused on Australian consumers. The aim of this work is to explore attitudes towards edible insects of younger Australians (Millennials and Generation Z) with data collection carried out in Sydney, Australia. Two representative surveys were conducted in 2018 and 2019 using open-ended questions. The main findings suggest that there is low willingness to accept edible insects as a meat substitute among Australian consumers, due mainly to the strong psychological barriers such as neophobia and disgust, combined with a perception about threats to masculinity. Environmental and nutritional benefits, even when recognised, do not seem to influence consumers to consider insects as a food alternative. In the near future, as young people become more aware of sustainability and climate change issues related to food production, the impact of the potential benefits of insects might grow. Furthermore, a positive sensory experience might improve the acceptability of insects as food. Introducing new processed, insect-based products may help establish familiarity with such novel food options and open up new business opportunities.

Suggested Citation

  • Giovanni Sogari & Diana Bogueva & Dora Marinova, 2019. "Australian Consumers’ Response to Insects as Food," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 9(5), pages 1-15, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:9:y:2019:i:5:p:108-:d:233210
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Cavallo, Carla & Materia, Valentina C., 2018. "Insects or not Insects? Dilemmas or Attraction for Young Generations: A Case in Italy," International Journal on Food System Dynamics, International Center for Management, Communication, and Research, vol. 9(3), June.
    2. David Tilman & Michael Clark, 2014. "Global diets link environmental sustainability and human health," Nature, Nature, vol. 515(7528), pages 518-522, November.
    3. Sogari, Giovanni & Menozzi, Davide & Mora, Cristina, 2018. "Sensory-liking Expectations and Perceptions of Processed and Unprocessed Insect Products," International Journal on Food System Dynamics, International Center for Management, Communication, and Research, vol. 9(4), August.
    4. Simone Belluco & A. Halloran & A. Ricci, 2017. "New protein sources and food legislation: the case of edible insects and EU law," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 9(4), pages 803-814, August.
    5. Cecilia Conti & Annamaria Costa & Claudia Maria Balzaretti & Vincenzo Russo & Doriana Eurosia Angela Tedesco, 2018. "Survey on Food Preferences of University Students: from Tradition to New Food Customs?," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 8(10), pages 1-12, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ioanna Apostolidou & Foivos Anastasiadis & Anastasios Michailidis, 2018. "Consumer Perceived Value to Traceability System in Food Supply Chains: iGeneration vs Millennials," Agricultural Economics Review, Greek Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 19(2), January.
    2. Eloi Jorge & Ernesto Lopez-Valeiras & Maria Beatriz Gonzalez-Sanchez, 2020. "The Importance Given to Food Naturalness Attributes by Millennial University Students," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-13, January.
    3. Karolina Szulc, 2023. "Edible Insects: A Study of the Availability of Insect-Based Food in Poland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-15, October.
    4. Luca Iseppi & Marcella Rizzo & Enrico Gori & Federico Nassivera & Ivana Bassi & Alessandro Scuderi, 2021. "Rasch Model for Assessing Propensity to Entomophagy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-21, April.

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