Exploring labeling for ecosystem services and biodiversity : a Q study with the German food-processing industry

Agriculture contributes to the deterioration of ecosystem services and the loss of biodiversity. Policy measures to combat these problems are often ineffective. Eco-labeling can help to involve consumers for increasing the share of products addressing ecosystem conservation. However, the literature...

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Autor principal: Hagenmüller, Andrej
Formato: H2
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: SLU/Dept. of Economics 2020
Materias:
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author Hagenmüller, Andrej
author_browse Hagenmüller, Andrej
author_facet Hagenmüller, Andrej
author_sort Hagenmüller, Andrej
collection Epsilon Archive for Student Projects
description Agriculture contributes to the deterioration of ecosystem services and the loss of biodiversity. Policy measures to combat these problems are often ineffective. Eco-labeling can help to involve consumers for increasing the share of products addressing ecosystem conservation. However, the literature has paid little attention to the food industry’s perspective on labels, albeit the industry’s crucial role for label implementation. The objective of this study is to explore the German food industry’s views of food product labeling for the effective and efficient provision of ecosystem services. Q methodology was applied which ensured that the interviewees compared statements relative to each other and sorted them based on their subjective valuation which yielded three distinct viewpoints as outcomes. The first viewpoint (“grass-roots labelists”) highlighted the importance of transparent norms for the quantification of ecosystem services; the second viewpoint (“local believers”) highlighted the potential of ‘local’ ecosystem services; and the third viewpoint (“skeptics”) showed doubts regarding a label-based approach for the provision of ecosystem services. The heterogeneity in viewpoints leads to the conclusion that the detailed assessment of markets, products, consumers, regions, and ecosystem services is crucial. Although context is important, and tailored solutions are necessary, the three identified viewpoints can provide some guidance on focus areas for such further analysis.
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institution Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
language Inglés
publishDate 2020
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spelling RepoSLU160152020-09-16T01:00:40Z Exploring labeling for ecosystem services and biodiversity : a Q study with the German food-processing industry Hagenmüller, Andrej agriculture EU food label multi-stakeholder approach Q methodology viewpoints Agriculture contributes to the deterioration of ecosystem services and the loss of biodiversity. Policy measures to combat these problems are often ineffective. Eco-labeling can help to involve consumers for increasing the share of products addressing ecosystem conservation. However, the literature has paid little attention to the food industry’s perspective on labels, albeit the industry’s crucial role for label implementation. The objective of this study is to explore the German food industry’s views of food product labeling for the effective and efficient provision of ecosystem services. Q methodology was applied which ensured that the interviewees compared statements relative to each other and sorted them based on their subjective valuation which yielded three distinct viewpoints as outcomes. The first viewpoint (“grass-roots labelists”) highlighted the importance of transparent norms for the quantification of ecosystem services; the second viewpoint (“local believers”) highlighted the potential of ‘local’ ecosystem services; and the third viewpoint (“skeptics”) showed doubts regarding a label-based approach for the provision of ecosystem services. The heterogeneity in viewpoints leads to the conclusion that the detailed assessment of markets, products, consumers, regions, and ecosystem services is crucial. Although context is important, and tailored solutions are necessary, the three identified viewpoints can provide some guidance on focus areas for such further analysis. SLU/Dept. of Economics 2020 H2 eng https://stud.epsilon.slu.se/16015/
spellingShingle agriculture
EU
food
label
multi-stakeholder approach
Q methodology
viewpoints
Hagenmüller, Andrej
Exploring labeling for ecosystem services and biodiversity : a Q study with the German food-processing industry
title Exploring labeling for ecosystem services and biodiversity : a Q study with the German food-processing industry
title_full Exploring labeling for ecosystem services and biodiversity : a Q study with the German food-processing industry
title_fullStr Exploring labeling for ecosystem services and biodiversity : a Q study with the German food-processing industry
title_full_unstemmed Exploring labeling for ecosystem services and biodiversity : a Q study with the German food-processing industry
title_short Exploring labeling for ecosystem services and biodiversity : a Q study with the German food-processing industry
title_sort exploring labeling for ecosystem services and biodiversity : a q study with the german food-processing industry
topic agriculture
EU
food
label
multi-stakeholder approach
Q methodology
viewpoints