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Consumer perception of sustainable practices in dairy production

Author

Listed:
  • Simona Naspetti

    (Università Politecnica delle Marche)

  • Serena Mandolesi

    (Università Politecnica delle Marche)

  • Jeroen Buysse

    (Ghent University)

  • Terhi Latvala

    (Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke))

  • Phillipa Nicholas

    (Gogerddan Campus Aberystwyth University)

  • Susanne Padel

    (Organic Research Centre)

  • Ellen J. Loo

    (Ghent University)

  • Raffaele Zanoli

    (Università Politecnica delle Marche)

Abstract

Home-grown protein crops as an alternative to soya in dairy cattle meals, as well as other sustainable ethical-based practices, have been proposed to increase the sustainability of dairy production. Data on consumer acceptance of the three novel sustainable production strategies of ‘agroforestry’, ‘prolonged maternal feeding’ of young cattle and ‘alternative protein source’ were collected through an online survey on consumer in six European Union countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Italy and the UK. Using Chen’s extended version of the Theory of Planned Behaviour model, the underlying model hypotheses on the attitudes and intentions of these consumers towards these production practices were tested, to establish the explanatory power of the model in the specific context of novel sustainable production strategies. Furthermore, the influence of gender and consumer ethical choices on their attitudes towards these innovative practices was also tested. These data show that ‘prolonged maternal feeding’ is the novel production practice that has the highest level of acceptance by consumers in all of these countries, with the least accepted practice as ‘alternative protein source’. Unexpectedly, increased availability of home-grown feed, which is grounded on both farmer and societal interests for higher input self-sufficiency and more sustainable production practices, was little appreciated by consumers, although their intentions appear to be dependent on their moral norms.

Suggested Citation

  • Simona Naspetti & Serena Mandolesi & Jeroen Buysse & Terhi Latvala & Phillipa Nicholas & Susanne Padel & Ellen J. Loo & Raffaele Zanoli, 2021. "Consumer perception of sustainable practices in dairy production," Agricultural and Food Economics, Springer;Italian Society of Agricultural Economics (SIDEA), vol. 9(1), pages 1-26, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:agfoec:v:9:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1186_s40100-020-00175-z
    DOI: 10.1186/s40100-020-00175-z
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Alexander Zorn & Franziska Zimmert, 2022. "Structural change in the dairy sector: exit from farming and farm type change," Agricultural and Food Economics, Springer;Italian Society of Agricultural Economics (SIDEA), vol. 10(1), pages 1-31, December.
    2. Valentina Maria Merlino & Stefano Massaglia & Simone Blanc & Filippo Brun & Danielle Borra, 2022. "Differences between Italian specialty milk in large-scale retailing distribution," Economia agro-alimentare, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 24(2), pages 1-28.
    3. Merlino, Valentina Maria & Massaglia, Stefano & Blanc, Simone & Brun, Filippo & Borra, Danielle, 2022. "Differences between Italian specialty milk in large-scale retailing distribution," Economia agro-alimentare / Food Economy, Italian Society of Agri-food Economics/Società Italiana di Economia Agro-Alimentare (SIEA), vol. 24(2), September.
    4. Grebowiec Mariusz, 2021. "Consumer Determinants of Purchasing Decisions on the Dairy Products Market," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(3 - Part ), pages 981-992.
    5. repec:ers:journl:v:xxiv:y:2021:i:3b:p:981-992 is not listed on IDEAS
    6. Shaheera Haroon & Muhammad Wasif & Rameez Khalid & Sana Khalidi, 2021. "Supply Chain Practitioners’ Perception on Sustainability: An Empirical Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-16, September.
    7. Iulia Sorina Dan & Ionel Mugurel Jitea, 2024. "Understanding the Perceptions of Organic Products in Romania: Challenges and Opportunities for Market Growth in the Context of the European Green Deal," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-25, December.
    8. Adamashvili Nino & Shervashidze Salome & Salvatore Fiorella Pia, 2021. "Does The Development of The Country Drive The Consumer Behavior? A Two-Country Study," International Journal of Business Research and Management (IJBRM), Computer Science Journals (CSC Journals), vol. 12(2), pages 34-49, April.

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