Consumer attitude and acceptance toward fish fed with insects: a focus on the new generations

Abstract

Since global demand for aquaculture products is expected to increase dramatically in the near future, policymakers and companies are considering the adoption of insect-based feed, which is more economically viable and environmentally sustainable than fish or vegetable-based meals currently used. Nonetheless, fish farmed with insects are still perceived as innovative products by consumers, and further studies exploring these demand-side concerns must be conducted to make sure a market for such products exists. This study focuses on the factors that can favour the acceptance of farmed fish fed with insects of a sample of young Italians. In particular, within the theoretical framework adopted in this analysis, we let acceptance be expressed by different dimensions, each potentially influenced by individual factors, such as socio-economic characteristics, as the provision of information on the nutritional and environmental benefits of insect-based feed for aquaculture, and as consumer psychometric indicators. In this respect, we use the by-dimensional definition of environmental attitude proposed by environmental psychologists, that considers attitude toward environmental protection and toward nature. In this survey, we reached 482 consumers, aged less than 40, using social networks. A Factor Analysis was performed to identify the different dimensions of the acceptance process. We then applied the Rasch model on consumers’ reported behaviours toward environmental protection or nature to retrieve their environmental attitudes. We performed a Seemingly Unrelated Regression to assess the importance of socio-demographic, information, and psychometric variables on the different dimensions of acceptance. Results indicate that the use of psychometric variables to study the acceptability of an innovative food product seems particularly appropriate. In addition to the role of environmental attitude, acceptance is also explained by some socio-demographic variables, with men and younger consumers being more inclined to accept the product. Acceptance is also higher among informed respondents, confirming the importance of reducing information asymmetries.

Overcoming Technical and Market Barriers to Enable Sustainable Large-Scale Production and Consumption of Insect Proteins in Europe: A SUSINCHAIN Perspective

“…Online choice experiments, concept maps, and an Information Display Matrix are used to determine the significance of attitudinal and trust-based issues. The project aims to boost consumer trust in insect-based foods, as well as insect-based food products from fish, poultry, and pigs fed insect proteins [ 18 ]. The project also aims to contribute to the upscaling of the European insect value chain ( Figure 2 ) by facilitating the exchange of information, sharing best practices and past lessons learned.…”

Recent advances in the utilization of insects as an ingredient in aquafeeds: A review

“…The use of insects as feed ingredients in aquaculture is a relatively new but highly promising technology for mitigating the rising cost of aquafeed due to sustainability issues of fishmeal ( Baldi et al, 2021 ; Hasimuna et al., 2019 ; Kord et al., 2022 ). However, the wider adoption of insect utilization in aquafeed will likely depend, to a larger extent, on aquaculture producers and consumer acceptance.…”

“…However, the wider adoption of insect utilization in aquafeed will likely depend, to a larger extent, on aquaculture producers and consumer acceptance. Despite few existing studies investigating people's perception concerning the use of insects as feed ingredients, the majority of the aquatic animal product consumers have shown favourable responses for various reasons, including risk-free ( Popoff et al., 2017 ; Szendrő et al., 2020 ), sustainability considerations ( Verbeke et al., 2015 ; Rumbos et al., 2021 ), as well as availability and access to information about the products ( Baldi et al., 2021 ; Rumbos et al., 2021 ). Product awareness and information availability are considered the most important factors that could accelerate the acceptance and positive perception of aquatic products produced on insects-based feeds ( Baldi et al., 2021 ; Rumbos et al., 2021 ).…”

“…Product awareness and information availability are considered the most important factors that could accelerate the acceptance and positive perception of aquatic products produced on insects-based feeds ( Baldi et al., 2021 ; Rumbos et al., 2021 ). According to Baldi et al. (2021) reducing information asymmetry could promote wider consumer acceptance.…”

“…(2021) reducing information asymmetry could promote wider consumer acceptance. Interestingly, a study conducted in Italy revealed that men and young consumers are more likely to accept aquatic products given insect-based feeds ( Baldi et al., 2021 ), suggesting that gender and age could play a role. Further, the authors observed that well-informed respondents had a higher acceptance rate compared with those that had little to no information.…”