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Abstract
The global pet food industry continues to grow being fueled by increased pet ownership, higher disposable income of pet owners, and a growing demand for premium products. While this growth has attracted increased interest of researchers in animal nutrition and product formulation, the overall body of management and economic literature to guide product innovation and marketing strategies in the pet food industry is still limited. This study aims to identify and highlight the most important, relevant, and current research needs for informing product and marketing decisions in pet food. The methods include a quantitative analysis of primary data from a survey of 76 pet food decision makers involved in the procurement of raw material, production, and marketing. The findings suggest the need for extensive research in various areas pertaining to the quality and availability of raw materials, processing methods, and forecasting consumer preferences. The findings also emphasize high value research areas such as identifying alternative protein sources, enhancing nutrient retention during the extrusion process, identifying opportunities for product innovation that align with customer preferences, and accurately predicting consumer demand.
Abstract
The latest global scale occurrences — COVID-19 pandemic and bellicose conflicts — have weakened stable value chain relationships and forced international leaders to reassess commitments to sustainability. From these experiences, it became evident that the success of sustainability initiatives encompasses strengthening local and short value chains while creating means for engaging smallholders in formal food channels. Taking international and national policies as motivations, this article examines the emerging pawpaw value chain in the Eastern United States. We employ a mixed-mode approach with two aims. First, we demonstrate how complementing qualitative methods can be articulated to prepare a strategic agenda to foster the development and resilience of local ag-food chains. Second, through the application of the devised methodology, interview records and survey answers are evaluated to map value chain relationships and describe stakeholders’ perceived challenges and opportunities. On the empirical front, this article proposes four macro strategies and 22 actionable projects. We argue that the representative association of pawpaw growers may adopt a broader leadership role to coordinate the necessary changes for sustaining long-term growth and promoting economic gains in rural communities dedicated to pawpaw production. The mixed-mode approach presented in this study can be replicated to analyze local and short chains elsewhere.
Adjacent economic regulations, human rights aspects of food, private and religious standards as well as the interaction between life science and law through the methodology of risk analysis are within the scope of the European Institute for Food Law series.
True to the function of legal scholarship in general to serve and advance legal practice, the European Institute for Food Law series presents scholarship that describes, analyses and explains food law in ways that advance academic understanding, are suitable for education and support practical application.
The European Institute for Food Law (Est. 04-04-2004) is a non-profit foundation aiming to advance the level of expertise and knowledge on food law, at national level, European level as well as global level. In cooperation with Brill | Wageningen Academic, it publishes the European Institute for Food Law series containing books on food law in the widest sense.
Books in this book series appear irregular.
Abstract
Domestic trade flow in China is an indispensable factor affecting food availability to the public. The aim of this study is to focus on the cost of domestic trade within China and the dietary health of Chinese residents. Based on the China-regional input-output tables and the CHNS micro-database, we calculated China’s domestic trade costs and Healthy Eating Index (HEI) of Chinese urban and rural residents. We find that domestic trade costs are negatively correlated with residents’ whole grain and mixed beans, vegetables, fruits, beef, mutton, poultry, and aquatic products consumption, having a significant negative influence on residents’ dietary quality score. Domestic trade costs can influence residents’ food consumption structure by affecting income and traditional market scores. Domestic trade costs have a greater negative influence on the dietary quality of rural residents, low-income residents, and elderly residents. The results suggest that reducing domestic trade costs increased residents’ food consumption and improved their dietary quality. Increasing the people’s income and stimulating traditional markets can alleviate the decline in dietary quality of the population caused by an increase in domestic trade costs.
Abstract
Consumers increasingly prefer lattes using alternative milk from plant-based sources. This study aims to find the factors affecting consumer intention to purchase lattes using alternative milk from plant-based sources and to compare the links between the factors and purchase intentions depending on two labels, “vegan” and “plant-based.” An online, scenario-based experiment was conducted with a between-subjects design (plant-based: n=268, vegan: n=265), followed by a survey. In both groups, the results show that the perceived benefits positively affect purchase intention, but the perceived barrier (i.e., vegetarian stigma) did not. Perceived benefits and preference were higher when showing a “plant-based latte” label focusing on the presence of plant-based ingredients than when showing a “vegan latte” label focusing on the absence of animal-based ingredients. For the label “vegan latte,” even if consumers are non-vegan, the higher their food curiosity, food snobbery, and food variety-seeking tendency, the higher their purchase intention. It suggests to marketers and menu developers what needs to be highlighted and which consumers to target to boost sales of latte using alternative milk. The findings emphasize the potential for labels to promote the purchase intention of alternative lattes, offering a strategy for changing consumer behavior.
Abstract
In the era of the digital economy, digital transformation is becoming essential for microeconomic entities to achieve high-quality development. This study utilizes A-share listed agribusinesses from 2007 to 2022, constructing a micro-level digital transformation index through textual analysis. It empirically examines the impact and mechanism of digital transformation on total factor productivity. Our findings indicate a positive effect of digital transformation on total factor productivity, considering endogeneity and other issues. The impact mechanism reveals that digital transformation enhances risk-taking ability, alleviates information asymmetry, and decreases financing constraints, thereby promoting total factor productivity (TFP). Heterogeneity analysis demonstrates varied impacts on ownership, industry, size, and region. This study provides an empirical basis for the high-quality development of agribusinesses and informs policy formulation from the perspective of agribusiness digital transformation.
Abstract
Environmental impact reporting has become a lynchpin for global agri-food supply chain decision-making. This importance has become heightened as governing bodies such as the European Union pass traceability legislation in an effort to reduce Scope 3 emissions. Despite this heightened importance, few studies have explored the role of supply chain management software in achieving sustainability goals within the agribusiness sector. This article provides a current perspective on ongoing supply chain and logistics software issues that might restrict the effectiveness of sustainability reporting. We argue that agribusinesses may struggle to achieve sustainability targets effectively without proficiency in supply chain software. This research contributes to the field by offering a nuanced understanding of the technological competencies required for sustainability success in agribusiness. This article highlights the importance of developing and implementing advanced supply chain management software to address the need for enhanced sustainability practices within the agribusiness sector. Using interviews with pre-farmgate and post-farmgate agribusiness employees, we demonstrate how these software skills will likely impact sustainability reporting and governance. Managerial implications also include the need for targeted skill development to facilitate more sustainable agribusiness management practices, as mastering such technological competencies is critical for adhering to evolving global environmental standards.
Abstract
China has made extensive outward foreign direct investments (FDI) over recent years, and Chinese international dairy sector investments have been substantial. Germany is the largest European Union milk producer and significant exporter of dairy products to China, but has yet to host these investments. Scientific literature considering industry-level macro-environmental factor falls short in exploring this phenomenon, leading to the question of how can the absence of Chinese foreign direct investments in the German dairy industry be explained by factors in the macro business environment? Following an abductive approach, this study explores the question through an adapted PESTEL conceptualization and operationalization based on an extensive literature review, descriptive analysis of secondary data and triangulated with semi-structured expert interviews. Results show factors such as existing governance structures and legislative tightening may outweigh incentives such as product quality characteristics and consumer preferences, and potential deals should be approached cautiously from a commercial perspective. Regulators and policy makers should also not reject Chinese investment applications out of hand. Our PESTEL application additionally illustrates how the framework could be adapted for initial considerations of FDI. This study is of interest to management academics, and stakeholders in both Germany and the wider dairy industry.