Consumer Behavior and Preferences in Food Systems Under Socioeconomic and Environmental Challenges
A special issue of Agriculture (ISSN 2077-0472). This special issue belongs to the section "Agricultural Economics, Policies and Rural Management".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 August 2026 | Viewed by 1020
Editors
Interests: food labeling; consumer preferences; pork sausage; meat products
Interests: food quality schemes; geographical indications; short food supply chains; farmers’ markets; agri-food trade
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
In recent years, food systems have been facing increasing pressure due to various socio-economic and environmental challenges, such as climate change, resource shortages, rising food prices, demographic changes, and growing consumer demands for sustainability and health. These factors significantly influence consumer behavior and preferences, shaping what, how, and why we choose the foods we consume.
A deeper understanding of consumer decision-making processes and behavioral patterns is therefore key to developing resilient and sustainable food systems. Exploring consumer preferences and perceptions can help all actors in the food supply chain—from producers to retailers to policymakers—respond effectively to these evolving challenges.
The aim of this Special Issue is to bring together the latest research and perspectives on consumer behavior and preferences in the context of evolving food systems. We welcome contributions that explore, but are not limited to, the following topics:
- Impacts of socio-economic and environmental factors on food choices;
- Consumer perceptions of food quality, safety, sustainability, and labeling;
- Cross-cultural and demographic differences in consumer preferences;
- Strategies for fostering sustainable and healthy eating behaviors.
All types of articles, including original research, reviews, and opinion papers, are welcome. We look forward to your valuable contributions, which will deepen our understanding of consumer behavior and its role in shaping the future of food systems.
Dr. Péter Czine
Dr. Áron Török
Dr. Zalán Márk Maró
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agriculture is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- consumer behavior
- food preferences
- cross-cultural differences
- socio-economic factors
- environmental challenges
- sustainable food systems
- food choice drivers
- healthy eating behaviors
- food labeling
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