Abstract
Local food production benefits sustainable regional development and should be considered as one the pillars of sustainable regional development strategies. Local food producers share a common heritage because of the cultural and historical ties in their regions, while consumers tend to value food products produced locally. The purpose of this article was to explore market participants’ attitudes toward the impact of local food product attributes on sustainable regional development. The authors’ findings on the main advantages and barriers to consumption of local food products have pointed out the complexity of the relationships between market participants (i.e., producers and consumers) and indicated that a deeper understanding is necessary for overall economic development. The problems of local food products in Serbia, in the context of sustainable regional development, have not been investigated so far, and for this reason, it is important to analyze the differences between consumer and producer attitudes to reduce this perceived gap in the literature. In this way, these insights can offer opportunities for strategic actions in regard to the local food product supply and consumption, with the aim of including different regional stakeholders.
Highlights
In the Republic of Serbia, there is a growing interest in and increasing consumer demand for high-quality and healthy products
The intensification of local food products’ (LFPs) production would contribute to halting biodiversity loss and improving ecosystems, and on the other hand, would help towards improving the economic positions of farmers, who form the basis of sustainable local development, and are directly related to the achievement of UNESCO’s (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) second, 12th, and 15th sustainable development goals [1]
The questions that arise are: What is the current perception of local food in the Republic of Serbia? Is there is a difference in the perception of consumers and producers of local food? What is the impact of local food products on sustainable economic development? Drawing on previous research from Memery, Angell, Megicks, and Lindgreen [44] and Megicks, Memery, and Angell [45], and suggestions from representatives of the Backa Development Agency and the Institute of Food Technology in Novi Sad, the perceptions of two groups of respondents were investigated
Summary
In the Republic of Serbia, there is a growing interest in and increasing consumer demand for high-quality and healthy products. The intensification of local food products’ (LFPs) production would contribute to halting biodiversity loss and improving ecosystems, and on the other hand, would help towards improving the economic positions of farmers, who form the basis of sustainable local development, and are directly related to the achievement of UNESCO’s (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) second, 12th, and 15th sustainable development goals [1]. The leading activity of the population in the Republic of Serbia, especially in rural areas, relies on agriculture and support for local development, which represents the fight against poverty and hunger. The ultimate goal of enhancing LFPs’ production should be the greater utilization of available natural resources [3], processing capacity increase, and improvement of the social position of the population. It is well known that every country has its own path and strategy for local development and that not every strategy is a guarantee for success, and countries exhibit different degrees of economic development
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
