| 1. |
- Ran, Ylva, et al.
(author)
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Effects of public policy interventions for environmentally sustainable food consumption: a systematic map of available evidence
- 2024
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In: Environmental Evidence. - 2047-2382. ; 13
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background The global food system is inflicting substantial environmental harm, necessitating a shift towards more environmentally sustainable food consumption practices. Policy interventions, for example, information campaigns, taxes and subsidies and changes in the choice context are essential to stimulate sustainable change, but their effectiveness in achieving environmental goals remains inadequately understood. Existing literature lacks a comprehensive synthesis of evidence on the role of public policies in promoting sustainable food consumption. Our systematic map addressed this gap by collecting and categorising research evidence on public policy interventions aimed at establishing environmentally sustainable food consumption patterns, in order to answer the primary research question: What evidence exists on the effects of public policy interventions for achieving environmentally sustainable food consumption?Methods Searches for relevant records (in English) were performed in WoS, Scopus, ASSIA, ProQuest Dissertation and Theses, EconLit, Google Scholar and in bibliographies of relevant reviews. A grey literature search was also performed on 28 specialist websites (searches were made in the original language of the webpages and publications in English, Swedish, Danish and Norwegian were eligible) and Google Scholar (search in English). Screening was performed at title/abstract and full-text levels, with machine learning-aided priority screening at title/abstract level. Eligibility criteria encompassed settings, interventions (public policies on sustainable food consumption), target groups and outcomes. No critical appraisal of study validity was conducted. Data coding covered bibliographic details, study characteristics, intervention types and outcomes. Evidence was categorised into intervention types and subcategories. Visual representation utilised bar plots, diagrams, heatmaps and an evidence atlas. This produced a comprehensive overview of effects of public policy interventions on sustainable food consumption patterns.Review findings The evidence base included 227 articles (267 interventions), with 92% of studies in high-income countries and only 4% in low-income countries. Quantitative studies dominated (83%), followed by mixed methods (16%) and qualitative studies (1%). Most interventions were information-based and 50% of reviewed studies looked at labels. Information campaigns/education interventions constituted 10% of the sample, and menu design changes and restriction/editing of choice context 8% each. Market-based interventions represented 13% of total interventions, of which two-thirds were taxes. Administrative interventions were rare (< 1%). Proxies for environmental impact (85%) were more frequent outcome measures than direct impacts (15%). Animal-source food consumption was commonly used (19%) for effects of interventions on, for example, greenhouse gas emissions. Most studies used stated preferences (61%) to evaluate interventions.Conclusions The literature assessing policies for sustainable food consumption is dominated by studies on non-intrusive policy instruments; labels, information campaigns, menu design changes and editing choice contexts. There is a strong need for research on sustainable food policies to leave the lab and enter the real world, which will require support and cooperation of public and private sector stakeholders. Impact evaluations of large-scale interventions require scaling-up of available research funding and stronger multidisciplinary research, including collaborations with industry and other societal actors. Future research in this field should also go beyond the European and North American context, to obtain evidence on how to counteract increasing environmental pressures from food consumption worldwide.
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| 2. |
- Petelin, Eugène
(author)
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Security priorities in circular economy : A conceptual review
- 2024
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In: Sustainable Production and Consumption. - 2352-5509. ; 47, s. 655-669
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Political interest in the circular economy (CE) concept is increasing globally, creating the conditions for a transformation towards a more circular society. Meanwhile, the security implications of specific circular solutions and their impact on prioritisation between CE policies remain unclear. This paper applied an abductive approach to systematic and critical review methods to explore the connections between CE and security and map security priorities from the academic literature. In the systematic review, 249 papers on the CE were analysed using the circular principles framework and resource security concept. Then, the critical review selected 38 papers and employed a constructivist security discourse framework to distinguish security perspectives in the CE. As a result, this study presents a spectrum of circular solutions that can address the challenges of food, material, energy, and water resource security. Four security discourses in the CE that prioritise different solutions and have diverse security implications are found. These results can help CE studies to relate conceptually to resource security and broaden the spectrum of applicable solutions. The CE's security discourse framework can be used to explore the geopolitical, intragenerational, social, and environmental effects of circular solutions, inform political debates, evaluate circular policies, and support marginalised circular solutions to ensure an inclusive circular transformation.
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| 3. |
- Wang, Ou, et al.
(author)
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The influence of innovation-adoption characteristics on consumers' trust and purchase intentions of innovative alternative proteins : a comparison between plant-based food, cultured food, and insect-based food
- 2024
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In: Food Quality and Preference. - : Elsevier. - 0950-3293 .- 1873-6343. ; 113
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Innovation-adoption characteristics encompass the perceived attributes that are associated with the pace atwhich consumers adopt innovations. This study investigates the impact of innovation-adoption characteristics onconsumers’ trust and purchase intentions of three categories of innovative alternative protein: cultured food,plant-based food, and insect-based food. Data was collected through web-based surveys conducted in NewZealand (n = 1019) and the United Kingdom (n = 1020). Data analysis involved factor analysis and structuralequation modeling. Consumers’ trust and purchase intentions of the three categories of innovative alternativeprotein were found to be significantly influenced by several or all of the following innovation-adoption characteristics:perceived subjective incentive, perceived complexity, perceived relative advantage, perceived risk,and trialability. When examining specific food products, consumers exhibited significantly higher levels of trustand intention to purchase plant-based food products, such as plant-based meat and plant-based milk, in comparisonto cultured food products, including cultured fresh meat, cultured processed meat, cultured seafood, andcell-based milk, as well as insect-based food. The study offers novel insights to the existing gap in understandingthe impact of innovation-adoption characteristics on consumer adoption of innovative alternative proteins. Thesefindings have the potential to assist stakeholders in the food industry in formulating effective promotionalstrategies for such products.
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| 4. |
- Rini, Listia, et al.
(author)
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Social media and food consumer behavior : a systematic review
- 2024
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In: Trends in Food Science & Technology. - : Elsevier. - 0924-2244 .- 1879-3053. ; 143
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Social media (SM) have become the integral part of consumers’ daily life, prompting multidisciplinary research on their link with human behaviors, including food attitude and consumption. However, the precise role of SM in shaping food consumer behavior remains partially explored.Scope and approach: This review adopts a systematic literature approach, focusing on the methodological and outcome characteristics. Applying PRISMA guidelines, 377 studies were identified and categorized into three SM functions: Tool, Determinant, and Source. Tool studies involved active SM use for research, while Determinant studies measured SM-related variables' impact on outcomes, and Source studies involved data extraction and analysis from SM. This review traces the growth of studies over time, highlighting the study characteristics focusing on the methodology, and the scope of the findings per function.Key findings and conclusion: Data collection methods differed across functions: Source studies relying on user-generated content (UGC) via data mining, other functions mostly employed surveys targeted to participants. Notable platforms include Facebook (Tool) and Twitter (Source), with cross-sectional designs being prevalent. Tool and Determinant studies linked SM with food intention and behavior, Source studies delved into categorization and exploration of UGC and consumers’ sentiments related to food. In both the Tool and Determinant functions, most studies demonstrated the influence of SM on outcome measures. As each function has its own distinct characteristics, knowledge from all functions should be considered to gain comprehensive perspective regarding the relationship between SM and food consumer behavior.
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| 5. |
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| 6. |
- J.I., Nagasha, et al.
(author)
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Gender-based approaches for improving milk safety, value addition and marketing among smallholder livestock farmers
- 2024
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In: Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems. - 2571-581X. ; 8
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In the context of Uganda, this study delves into gender-based strategies aimed at enhancing women's engagement in milk safety, value addition and marketing within smallholder livestock farming. The objectives were twofold: first, to document the current practices of women in milk safety, value addition, and marketing channels; second, to examine the constraints, opportunities, and strategies related to the production of safe milk and milk products, along with accessing sustainable markets. Conducted in four sub-counties of Kiruhura district, this research employed both qualitative participatory methods and structured questionnaires, including twelve focused group discussions and twenty key informant interviews with both women and men. Notably, 217 structured questionnaires were administered. The findings illuminate that women play a central role in milk processing, water provisioning, sanitation, hygiene practices and were the primary contributors to milk value addition, particularly in the production of butter and ghee. Despite their active involvement, women face challenges in accessing adequate milk quantities, employ traditional labor-intensive procedures and encounter difficulties in marketing their processed products. Men, often the household heads, held decision-making authority over milk consumption and control the selling of milk, contributing to gender disparities. Addressing these challenges necessitates comprehensive support, including training and capacity-building initiatives for both men and women in milk value addition, credit access, and market entry. The study underscores the potential for improved women's access to milk quantities, particularly for butter and ghee production, to strengthen rural livelihoods and boost dairy production in Uganda.
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| 7. |
- Lipke, Naomi, 1983-
(author)
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Creating Food Commons : From Commodity to Common Pool Resource
- 2024
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Licentiate thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Researchers, environmentalists, social justice activists and policy makers have long discussed the inherent environmental and social problems prevalent in food systems. This thesis explores ways in which foodsharing can be interpreted as a movement towards a future set of economic relationships that values environmental limits and the right of individuals to access food. Contributing to a growing body of literature, I argue that foodsharing demonstrates the ability for people to organize using alternative digital tools for collection and distribution of readily abundant resources without the need for significant government or business intervention, producing a type of commons relationship. The aim of the thesis is to explore what foodsharing, as a process of commoning, can teach us about alternative forms of economic and social exchanges. If alternative economic organizations are important for a just transition, social scientists need to go beyond arguments for their relevance to study their actual strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities to support them. Drawing on theories of commons, prefigurative politics and just transitions, this thesis looks at an alternative economy organization which succeeds despite working against the status quo, to show where the social system around it is not designed to support it and asks what it might need to reach further. This is explored through the qualitative case study of a well-established foodsharing organization in a medium size city on the West coast of Sweden. Research questions focused on the political ideas used by the organization, the ways in which it was organized, and the reasons for and resolution of conflict. Through interviews, observations, and online research the case is elaborated upon and analyzed to reveal the unique dynamics of the studied organization. These include very specific rules for collecting and distributing food that aim to maintain transparency, solidarity, and fairness. The foodsharing organization displays some characteristics of a food commons and in other instances characteristics of a gift economy. The main contribution is a closer look at the resulting interpersonal and organizational dynamics of one alternative economy organization in order to illuminate some challenges of organizing and maintaining similar ventures in the future. If alternative economic organizations have social benefit, then they will need to be supported in the ways in which are appropriate to their form and politics.
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| 8. |
- Mulugeta, Behailu, et al.
(author)
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Unlocking the genetic potential of Ethiopian durum wheat landraces with high protein quality: Sources to be used in future breeding for pasta production
- 2024
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In: Food and energy security. - 2048-3694. ; 13
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The content and composition of the grain storage proteins in wheat determine to a high extent its end-use quality for pasta and bread production. This study aimed to evaluate the content and composition of the grain storage proteins in Ethiopian landraces and cultivars to contribute to future breeding toward improved pasta quality. Thus, 116 landraces and 34 cultivars originating from Ethiopia were grown in three locations, and the protein parameters were analyzed using size exclusion-high performance liquid chromatography (SE-HPLC). A considerable variation in the amount of the analyzed protein parameters was found. The genotypes, environments, and interactions contributed significantly (p < 0.001) to the differences obtained. The broad-sense heritability was high (0.75-0.98) for all protein parameters except for unextractable small monomeric protein (uSMP). Using the principal component analysis (PCA) to evaluate the impact of protein parameters and using either PCA or unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) to assess the impact of the genetic composition, the cultivar group was found to form a separate cluster. This indicates that durum wheat improvement in Ethiopia has relied on exotic materials, which might result from a narrow genetic base. Unlike most landraces, most released cultivars showed a high and stable gluten strength across environments. Two landraces, G057 and G107, were found genetically distinct from the released cultivars but with high and stable gluten. The two selected landraces might be of extremely high value for future use in durum wheat breeding programs, as they might be adapted to wide-ranging Ethiopian growing conditions, they might carry genes of relevance to withstand abiotic and biotic stresses, and they seem to hold essential protein properties, which might result in high-quality grains for industrial processes.
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| 9. |
- Margerison, Clair, et al.
(author)
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Australian adults cooked more and tried new recipes during COVID-19 restrictions and lockdowns
- 2024
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In: Appetite. - 0195-6663 .- 1095-8304. ; 193
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The lockdowns and restrictions due to COVID-19 caused changes in both food accessibility and availability for people around the globe resulting in changes in food habits and behaviours. To enable a better public health response to the next pandemic, lessons must be learnt from this most recent emergency. This study aimed to examine self-reported changes in food habits and behaviours, of Australian adults during COVID-19 restrictions in 2020. A cross-sectional, convenience, Australia-wide survey, with open-ended and closed-ended questions was conducted online. Respondents were asked to report their demographic characteristics, positive food habit development, worst food-related experiences, changes in food habits and behaviours and cooking and food preparation practices during the COVID-19 restriction period. Adult Australian residents, recruited through so-cial media advertising of the survey. Respondents (n = 764) were mostly female (86%), over 55 years of age (57%, mean age (SD) 53.4 (18.1) years), and half (51%) were not in paid employment. Nearly two-thirds (63%) developed positive food habits, including trying new recipes (54%), eating less take-away (53%) and cooking from scratch (46%) during the COVID-19 restrictions. Furthermore, respondents reported including family members in food preparation and eating together as a family. Negative experiences included being unable to buy certain foods (due to lack of stock and store limits), cooking at home, and being unable to access some food outlets. Australians experienced both positive and negative food experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdown periods, with most experiencing positive changes such as cooking at home from scratch and trying new recipes and relying on less take-away. Females and those who experienced a change in employment status were more likely to develop positive new food habits.
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| 10. |
- Jafarzadeh, Shima, et al.
(author)
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Advanced technologies in biodegradable packaging using intelligent sensing to fight food waste
- 2024
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In: International Journal of Biological Macromolecules. - 0141-8130 .- 1879-0003. ; 261
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The limitation of conventional packaging in demonstrating accurate and real-time food expiration dates leads to food waste and foodborne diseases. Real-time food quality monitoring via intelligent packaging could be an effective solution to reduce food waste and foodborne illnesses. This review focuses on recent technological advances incorporated into food packaging for monitoring food spoilage, with a major focus on paper-based sensors and their combination with smartphone. This review paper offers a comprehensive exploration of advanced macromolecular technologies in biodegradable packaging, a general overview of paper-based probes and their incorporation into food packaging coupled with intelligent sensing mechanisms for monitoring food freshness. Given the escalating global concerns surrounding food waste, our manuscript serves as a pivotal resource, consolidating current research findings and highlighting the transformative potential of these innovative packaging solutions. We also highlight the current intelligent paper-based food freshness sensors and their various advantages and limitations. Examples of implementation of paper-based sensors/probes for food storage and their accuracy are presented. Finally, we examined how intelligent packaging can be an alternative to reduce food waste. Several technologies discussed here have good potential to be used in food packaging for real-time food monitoring, especially when combined with smartphone diagnosis.
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