The Role of Local and Environmental Attributes on Food Consumption

The field of sustainable food consumption is increasingly gaining attention as the current food system is recognized as a significant contributor to climate change. With growing consumer awareness about environmental and health issues, there is a heightened demand for local and environmentally friendly products, such as organic and natural foods that are perceived to have a lower environmental footprint. However, the production of these green products often incurs additional costs for producers and farmers, posing a substantial barrier to the widespread adoption of sustainable production systems. Despite the rising interest, there remains a gap in understanding consumer perceptions and preferences for local and green products, particularly regarding their willingness to pay a premium for these options. Recent studies have begun to explore these dynamics, yet comprehensive insights into the factors influencing consumer decisions and the economic implications for producers are still lacking. Addressing these gaps is crucial for developing strategies that align consumer demand with sustainable production practices.

This research topic aims to explore the intricate dynamics between local and environmental attributes and their influence on food consumption patterns. Specifically, it seeks to answer questions related to the impact of environmental attributes and the origin of food on purchasing decisions, as well as consumer preferences for organic products and those with protected designation of origin. Additionally, the research will investigate the extent to which consumers are willing to pay a premium for organic and local products, providing valuable insights into market trends and potential shifts in consumer behavior.

To gather further insights into the role of local and environmental attributes on food consumption, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
- Environmentally sustainable food: Analyze the role of environmental attributes (carbon footprint, water footprint, etc.) in food purchasing and consumption decisions.
- Local food: Investigate the role of origin (local) in food purchasing and consumption decisions.
- Organic food: Assess consumer preferences and willingness to pay for organic products.
- Protected Designation of Origin foods: Assess consumer preferences and willingness to pay for Protected Designation of Origin products

Keywords: Consumer behavior, organic, protected designation of origin, willingness to pay, discrete choice experiment

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.