Consumer Behavior and Sustainable Food Development

Dear Colleagues,

Some of the main issues the world is facing today are climate change, consumption of resources, waste, pollution, and food-related deseases. These problems affect consumption choices and contribute to defining a new consumer profile. The modern consumer, in fact, is not only more selective, informed, and interested in quality, but they are also more sensitive to social, environmental, and health issues. As a consequence, in the last few decades, consumer demand for food with healthy, eco-friendly, ethical, and sustainable characteristics has been growing. Moreover, the current consumer is aware that their purchases have an impact on the environment and on the quality of life of the world population. The food industries have answered to these modern consumer needs by adopting product and process innovations that aim to increase the quality, safety, and sustainability of food. In light of this evolution, it is of fundamental importance to evaluate the emerging drivers and barriers of food consumption  behavior.

Some key research questions are:

• What is the consumers' perception of health and sustainable product and process innovations adopted by industries?
• What is the consumer willingness to purchase products characterized by sustainable and healthy attributes?
• What is the consumer willingness to pay products characterized by sustainable and healthy attributes?
• What are the drivers and barriers to adopting sustainable consumption choices?
• What are the determinants of consumer food waste behavior?

Prof. Biagia De Devitiis
Prof. Antonio Seccia
Prof. Rosaria Viscecchia
Guest Editor

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• Consumer preferences
• Consumer behavior
• Health-related claims
• Functional and novel foods
• Sustainable and healthy product attributes
• Sustainable consumption drivers and barriers
• Communication of sustainability strategy within the food supply chain
• Consumer food waste behavior
• Healthy eating