Consumer perceptions of precision livestock farming-a qualitative study in three european countries
Krampe, Caspar (Wageningen University and Research. Department of Social Science)
Serratosa, Jordi (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Parc de Recerca)
Niemi, Jarkko K. (Natural Resources Institute Finland)
Ingenbleek, Paul T. M. (Wageningen University and Research. Department of Social Science)

Date:	2021
Abstract:	Scholars in the fields of animal science and technology have investigated how precision livestock farming (PLF) can contribute to the quality and efficiency of animal husbandry and to the health and welfare of farm animals. Although the results of such studies provide promising avenues for the development of PLF technologies and their potential for the application in animal husbandry, the perspectives of consumers with regard to PLF technologies have yet to be the subject of much investigation. To address this research gap, the current study explores consumer perceptions of PLF technologies within the pork and dairy value chains. The investigation is based on results from six focus group discussions conducted in three European countries, each reflecting a different market environment: Finland, the Netherlands and Spain. The results indicate that consumers expect the implementation of different PLF technologies to enhance the health and welfare of farm animals, while generating environmental improvements and increasing the transparency of value-chain processes. The analysis further reveals three over-arching consumer concerns: (1) the fear that the integration of PLF technologies will introduce more industrialisation into livestock farming production; (2) the concern that PLF technologies and data are vulnerable to misuse and cyber-crime; and (3) the concern that PLF information is not communicated adequately to allow informed purchase decisions. The research findings provide directions for members of the animal-based food value chain to make informed decisions to improve their sustainability, social responsibility and credibility by endorsing the acceptance of PLF (technologies) amongst European consumers.
Grants:	European Commission. Horizon 2020 862919
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Animal welfare ; Precision livestock farming ; Consumers ; European cross-country comparison ; Focus group discussions ; Value chain ; Pigs ; Dairy cows
Published in:	Animals, Vol. 11 Núm. 5 (may 2021) , p. 1221, ISSN 2076-2615

DOI: 10.3390/ani11051221
PMID: 33922691

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