Publications by authors named "Flavio Boccia"

The world's growing population is putting immense pressure on natural resources and food security. Algae, as a sustainable and nutrient-rich alternative protein source, have gained attention due to their lower environmental impacts and potential health benefits. However, consumer acceptance remains a key challenge, especially in developing countries where awareness is limited.

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The word-of-mouth (WOM) marketing process is one of the main means by which consumers obtain information. As a communication channel between consumers in economically developing countries, WOM may contribute to the development of the organic food market. The primary objective of this study is to segment organic saffron consumers in Mashhad, Iran, and determine how they engage in WOM marketing.

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In recent decades, the global increase in the demand for food and the increasing growth of the world population has caused an inevitable transition from traditional to advanced agriculture and the use of new technologies in the production of food and agricultural products. One of the new achievements of biotechnology is the production and use of genetically modified plants. The benefits of genetically modified crops can be seen well beyond the farm as well, from helping to conserve natural resources to fighting climate change.

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In recent decades, meat consumption has increased globally due to increased incomes. A consequence of increased red meat consumption has been the rise in greenhouse gas emissions and nutrition-related diseases. Consumption of antibiotic-free (ABF) poultry meat is a viable healthy and sustainable substitute that will cause less damage to humans and the environment in the long run.

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Genetically modified (GM) foods remain a contentious issue worldwide, yet consumer preferences in this field have received too little attention in the academic research. The present paper helps fill this gap by investigating the hypothetical consumer behaviour towards and willingness to pay (WTP) for a specific type of GM food (of the first, second or third generation) using a choice experiment with 1444 respondents from three European cities. A random parameter logit-error component (RPL-EC) model allows for heterogeneity in consumer preferences and potential correlation across utilities and across taste parameters.

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Nowadays people are increasingly interested in health foods, which are foods considered beneficial to well-being in ways that go beyond a normal healthy diet required for human nutrition. This study aims at providing a better understanding of the main factors leading to the purchase of a relatively new category of technological foods, namely nutraceuticals. Based on data collected on a sample of Italian families through a cross-sectional survey, which included choice experiment questions and socio-demographic characteristics, two specifications of discrete choice models allowed us to formalise the behavioural response linked to that purchase and to preference heterogeneity across consumers, and the willingness to pay for these products.

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The present research aimed to study the consumption of socially responsible food consumption products in order to identify the elements on which European companies must base their success strategies in the next future. This research suggests both information about this particular kind of consumption and factors that determine their purchase through statistical techniques for testing and estimating causal relations, using data derived from carried out sample survey. Above all, the factor analysis and the cluster analysis are used for the aim of the study.

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The theme of genetically modified organisms is very important for modern consumers, especially when they approach novel foods. In this paper, we have attempted to assess the impact of genetically modified foods on the consumers' preferences, considering a new vision of ours: however, the conclusions also form a topic for further discussion. We conducted an investigation on a sample size survey.

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Genetically modified food is able to oppose the world's hunger and preserve the environment, even if the patents in this matter are symptomatic of several doubts. And also, transgenic consumption causes problems and skepticism among consumers in several European countries, but above all in Italy, where there is a strong opposition over recent years. So, the present study conducted a research to study the consumption of genetically modified food products by Italian young generation.

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