Insects as Feed for Farmed Poultry: Are Italian Consumers Ready to Embrace This Innovation?
The inclusion of insects as a protein source in feed production is not only related to technical, economical, and normative restrictions but is also affected by consumer acceptance. In this study, we evaluated consumers’ attitudes, intention to purchase and eat, and willingness to pay for meat obtai...
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doaj-2b6db2fc94fd45d4ba50becc14ec46092021-05-31T23:48:23ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502021-05-011243543510.3390/insects12050435Insects as Feed for Farmed Poultry: Are Italian Consumers Ready to Embrace This Innovation?Davide Menozzi0Giovanni Sogari1Cristina Mora2Marta Gariglio3Laura Gasco4Achille Schiavone5Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 45/A, 43124 Parma, ItalyDepartment of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 45/A, 43124 Parma, ItalyDepartment of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 45/A, 43124 Parma, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Science, University of Turin, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural, Forest, and Food Sciences, University of Turin, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Science, University of Turin, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, ItalyThe inclusion of insects as a protein source in feed production is not only related to technical, economical, and normative restrictions but is also affected by consumer acceptance. In this study, we evaluated consumers’ attitudes, intention to purchase and eat, and willingness to pay for meat obtained from a farmed duck fed with insect-based meal or a live insect diet. We conducted a survey among a sample of 565 consumers to test the effects of information about the benefits of using insects as feed on consumers’ attitudes towards animal-based products fed with insects. Providing information on the sustainability and nutritional benefits of using insects as feed increased both attitude towards and intention to purchase and eat meat products made from animals fed with insects. In the treatment group, we found a significant reduction from 21.9 to 14.0% in those who wanted to be compensated for buying a duck fed with an insect-based meal and an increase in those willing to pay the same price—from 64.9 to 72.7%. The information treatment significantly increased the intention to eat such products, suggesting that increasing consumers’ knowledge might help in reducing the fears and misconceptions around the topic of using insects as a feed source.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/12/5/435animal welfareattitudeconsumer behaviorduck meatinsect mealinsect-based feed |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Davide Menozzi Giovanni Sogari Cristina Mora Marta Gariglio Laura Gasco Achille Schiavone |
spellingShingle |
Davide Menozzi Giovanni Sogari Cristina Mora Marta Gariglio Laura Gasco Achille Schiavone Insects as Feed for Farmed Poultry: Are Italian Consumers Ready to Embrace This Innovation? Insects animal welfare attitude consumer behavior duck meat insect meal insect-based feed |
author_facet |
Davide Menozzi Giovanni Sogari Cristina Mora Marta Gariglio Laura Gasco Achille Schiavone |
author_sort |
Davide Menozzi |
title |
Insects as Feed for Farmed Poultry: Are Italian Consumers Ready to Embrace This Innovation? |
title_short |
Insects as Feed for Farmed Poultry: Are Italian Consumers Ready to Embrace This Innovation? |
title_full |
Insects as Feed for Farmed Poultry: Are Italian Consumers Ready to Embrace This Innovation? |
title_fullStr |
Insects as Feed for Farmed Poultry: Are Italian Consumers Ready to Embrace This Innovation? |
title_full_unstemmed |
Insects as Feed for Farmed Poultry: Are Italian Consumers Ready to Embrace This Innovation? |
title_sort |
insects as feed for farmed poultry: are italian consumers ready to embrace this innovation? |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Insects |
issn |
2075-4450 |
publishDate |
2021-05-01 |
description |
The inclusion of insects as a protein source in feed production is not only related to technical, economical, and normative restrictions but is also affected by consumer acceptance. In this study, we evaluated consumers’ attitudes, intention to purchase and eat, and willingness to pay for meat obtained from a farmed duck fed with insect-based meal or a live insect diet. We conducted a survey among a sample of 565 consumers to test the effects of information about the benefits of using insects as feed on consumers’ attitudes towards animal-based products fed with insects. Providing information on the sustainability and nutritional benefits of using insects as feed increased both attitude towards and intention to purchase and eat meat products made from animals fed with insects. In the treatment group, we found a significant reduction from 21.9 to 14.0% in those who wanted to be compensated for buying a duck fed with an insect-based meal and an increase in those willing to pay the same price—from 64.9 to 72.7%. The information treatment significantly increased the intention to eat such products, suggesting that increasing consumers’ knowledge might help in reducing the fears and misconceptions around the topic of using insects as a feed source. |
topic |
animal welfare attitude consumer behavior duck meat insect meal insect-based feed |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/12/5/435 |
work_keys_str_mv |
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