Does Consumers’ Cultural Background Affect How They Perceive and Engage in Food Sustainability? A Cross-Cultural Study
Motivated by the evolving global food landscape and its detrimental impacts on society, the environment, and health, this research aims to understand consumer perceptions, preferences and involvement regarding sustainable food products and consumption practices. To this aim, three countries were cho...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2024-01-01
|
| Series: | Foods |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/13/2/311 |
| _version_ | 1827369618000314368 |
|---|---|
| author | Julieth Lizcano-Prada Marcela Maestre-Matos Francisco J. Mesias Olda Lami Handan Giray Celile Özçiçek Dölekoğlu Abdou Gafarou Abdoulaye Bamoi Federico Martínez-Carrasco |
| author_facet | Julieth Lizcano-Prada Marcela Maestre-Matos Francisco J. Mesias Olda Lami Handan Giray Celile Özçiçek Dölekoğlu Abdou Gafarou Abdoulaye Bamoi Federico Martínez-Carrasco |
| author_sort | Julieth Lizcano-Prada |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Motivated by the evolving global food landscape and its detrimental impacts on society, the environment, and health, this research aims to understand consumer perceptions, preferences and involvement regarding sustainable food products and consumption practices. To this aim, three countries were chosen for their distinct economic, cultural, and demographic differences (Spain, Türkiye, and Colombia), enabling an exploration of how these factors influence sustainability perceptions. The results show high levels of awareness, knowledge, consumption, and willingness to switch to more sustainable habits, although differences between countries were also found (price sensitivity in Spain and demand for information regarding sustainable food in Colombia). In addition, a group of consumers has been identified that is influenced by health, shows positive behaviours and perceptions towards sustainable food, and is not price sensitive. The study is significant, as it addresses the information gap between consumers, producers, and policymakers regarding sustainable food awareness. It seeks to provide insights into cultural influences on sustainability perceptions and aims to assist in developing educational programs and policies to promote sustainable consumption. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T09:55:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9a5233c983074379a9f0137f6dfaaef5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2304-8158 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T09:55:04Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Foods |
| spelling | doaj.art-9a5233c983074379a9f0137f6dfaaef52024-01-29T13:52:38ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582024-01-0113231110.3390/foods13020311Does Consumers’ Cultural Background Affect How They Perceive and Engage in Food Sustainability? A Cross-Cultural StudyJulieth Lizcano-Prada0Marcela Maestre-Matos1Francisco J. Mesias2Olda Lami3Handan Giray4Celile Özçiçek Dölekoğlu5Abdou Gafarou Abdoulaye Bamoi6Federico Martínez-Carrasco7Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Empresariales, Universidad del Magdalena, Santa Marta 470004, ColombiaFacultad de Ciencias Económicas y Empresariales, Universidad del Magdalena, Santa Marta 470004, ColombiaEscuela de Ingenierías Agrarias, Universidad de Extremadura, 06007 Badajoz, SpainEscuela de Ingenierías Agrarias, Universidad de Extremadura, 06007 Badajoz, SpainDepartment of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, Eskisehir Osmangazi University (ESOGU), 26160 Odunpazarı, TürkiyeDepartment of Marketing, Faculty of Business Administration, Adana Alparslan Türkeş Science and Technology University, 01250 Adana, TürkiyeDepartment of Agricultural Economics, Institute of Natural and Applied Sciences, Akdeniz University, 07058 Antalya, TürkiyeDepartment of Applied Economics, Facultad de Economía y Empresa, Universidad de Murcia, 30100 Murcia, SpainMotivated by the evolving global food landscape and its detrimental impacts on society, the environment, and health, this research aims to understand consumer perceptions, preferences and involvement regarding sustainable food products and consumption practices. To this aim, three countries were chosen for their distinct economic, cultural, and demographic differences (Spain, Türkiye, and Colombia), enabling an exploration of how these factors influence sustainability perceptions. The results show high levels of awareness, knowledge, consumption, and willingness to switch to more sustainable habits, although differences between countries were also found (price sensitivity in Spain and demand for information regarding sustainable food in Colombia). In addition, a group of consumers has been identified that is influenced by health, shows positive behaviours and perceptions towards sustainable food, and is not price sensitive. The study is significant, as it addresses the information gap between consumers, producers, and policymakers regarding sustainable food awareness. It seeks to provide insights into cultural influences on sustainability perceptions and aims to assist in developing educational programs and policies to promote sustainable consumption.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/13/2/311foodconsumercross-culturalSpainTürkiyeColombia |
| spellingShingle | Julieth Lizcano-Prada Marcela Maestre-Matos Francisco J. Mesias Olda Lami Handan Giray Celile Özçiçek Dölekoğlu Abdou Gafarou Abdoulaye Bamoi Federico Martínez-Carrasco Does Consumers’ Cultural Background Affect How They Perceive and Engage in Food Sustainability? A Cross-Cultural Study Foods food consumer cross-cultural Spain Türkiye Colombia |
| title | Does Consumers’ Cultural Background Affect How They Perceive and Engage in Food Sustainability? A Cross-Cultural Study |
| title_full | Does Consumers’ Cultural Background Affect How They Perceive and Engage in Food Sustainability? A Cross-Cultural Study |
| title_fullStr | Does Consumers’ Cultural Background Affect How They Perceive and Engage in Food Sustainability? A Cross-Cultural Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Does Consumers’ Cultural Background Affect How They Perceive and Engage in Food Sustainability? A Cross-Cultural Study |
| title_short | Does Consumers’ Cultural Background Affect How They Perceive and Engage in Food Sustainability? A Cross-Cultural Study |
| title_sort | does consumers cultural background affect how they perceive and engage in food sustainability a cross cultural study |
| topic | food consumer cross-cultural Spain Türkiye Colombia |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/13/2/311 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT juliethlizcanoprada doesconsumersculturalbackgroundaffecthowtheyperceiveandengageinfoodsustainabilityacrossculturalstudy AT marcelamaestrematos doesconsumersculturalbackgroundaffecthowtheyperceiveandengageinfoodsustainabilityacrossculturalstudy AT franciscojmesias doesconsumersculturalbackgroundaffecthowtheyperceiveandengageinfoodsustainabilityacrossculturalstudy AT oldalami doesconsumersculturalbackgroundaffecthowtheyperceiveandengageinfoodsustainabilityacrossculturalstudy AT handangiray doesconsumersculturalbackgroundaffecthowtheyperceiveandengageinfoodsustainabilityacrossculturalstudy AT celileozcicekdolekoglu doesconsumersculturalbackgroundaffecthowtheyperceiveandengageinfoodsustainabilityacrossculturalstudy AT abdougafarouabdoulayebamoi doesconsumersculturalbackgroundaffecthowtheyperceiveandengageinfoodsustainabilityacrossculturalstudy AT federicomartinezcarrasco doesconsumersculturalbackgroundaffecthowtheyperceiveandengageinfoodsustainabilityacrossculturalstudy |