Abstract
The aim of the present study was (1) to investigate what consumers include within the concept of food sustainability and its link with sustainable consumption, by identifying meaningful consumer typologies from the concept of food sustainability and food choice factors framed by SDG 12, and (2) to know how different farm systems attributes affecting purchase behavior are associated with such typologies. Consumers from two Spanish regions (n = 403) answered a paper questionnaire to know their degree of knowledge of sustainability, and beliefs, behavior, attitudes and preferences towards food sustainability, and the importance given to product characteristics and shopping practices. A principal component analysis was conducted to identify groups with similar answers, to average some of the questions before the final analysis of variance, which includes demographic classes as fixed effects. A cluster analysis using the most representative questions identified two clusters. cluster 1 (68.4%) responded to more sustainability-related attributes, and cluster 2 (31.5%) presented a less-expanded concept of sustainability. The origin of the product and quality certification (local, organic) was important for food purchase practices. The place of residence and gender differences of the consumers were the most influential factors. In the conjoint study, regarding the purchase of Iberian pork, cluster 1 remained unwilling to sacrifice outdoor systems and local breed at the expense of the price, in the case of the Iberian pig production. The most important demographic differentiator was the region of residence of the consumer. In conclusion, consumers are not aware of the wider aspects included in the sustainability concept. Moreover, the concept of sustainability elicits different meanings to the segments of the consumers identified.
Highlights
The global food system is one of the main drivers of climate change, and its importance is progressively increasing with the world population growth [1,2]
An example of the relevance that sustainable choices have acquired is their insertion in strategic plans and priority goals in the United Nations-led initiative ’Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’ that sets out 17 Sustainable Development
Meeting the grand challenges of the recent days requires societal transformation that starts from changes in production and consumption patterns [5], both linked to the sustainability concept
Summary
The global food system is one of the main drivers of climate change, and its importance is progressively increasing with the world population growth [1,2]. SDG goal 12 (SDG 12) includes a focus on promoting sustainable consumption and production patterns that guarantee economic growth [4], and SDG goal. Meeting the grand challenges of the recent days requires societal transformation that starts from changes in production and consumption patterns [5], both linked to the sustainability concept. The agri-food sector, mainly animal production systems in its pursuit of sustainability, has to integrate several elements, such as environmental protection, food safety, animal welfare, and benefits to local producers that concern the consumer [5]
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