IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v18y2021i13p6707-d579609.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Future of Food: Understanding Public Preferences for the Management of Agricultural Resources

Author

Listed:
  • Erika Allen Wolters

    (School of Public Policy, Oregon State University, 300 Bexell Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA)

  • Brent S. Steel

    (School of Public Policy, Oregon State University, 300 Bexell Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA)

  • Sydney Anderson

    (Public Policy and Administration, Boise State University, MS1935 Environmental Research Building, Boise, ID 83725, USA)

  • Heather Moline

    (School of Public Policy, Oregon State University, 300 Bexell Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA)

Abstract

The current U.S food system has managed to provide abundant food at a relatively low cost, even as the population increases. However, this unfettered growth is reaching maximum yields as demand for greater food production competes with other uses of agricultural lands. Extant ecological factors such as water scarcity are reducing food productivity, and competition for resources to produce food is becoming more apparent. This research examines public policy preferences of U.S. west coast citizens for the management of agricultural resources through the use of random household surveys. Results suggest overall support among respondents for food policies using regulatory, tax incentive, and voluntary outreach approaches. Multivariate analyses revealed that some social-demography, knowledge, environmental values, political ideology, and environmental efficacy variables were significant predictors of public opposition and support for food policies.

Suggested Citation

  • Erika Allen Wolters & Brent S. Steel & Sydney Anderson & Heather Moline, 2021. "The Future of Food: Understanding Public Preferences for the Management of Agricultural Resources," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-20, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:13:p:6707-:d:579609
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/13/6707/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/13/6707/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Fung, Timothy K.F. & Choi, Doo Hun & Scheufele, Dietram A. & Shaw, Bret R., 2014. "Public opinion about biofuels: The interplay between party identification and risk/benefit perception," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 344-355.
    2. Jennifer Thorvaldson & James Pritchett & Christopher Goemans, 2010. "Western Households’ Water Knowledge, Preferences, and Willingness to Pay," Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economics/Revue canadienne d'agroeconomie, Canadian Agricultural Economics Society/Societe canadienne d'agroeconomie, vol. 58(4), pages 497-514, December.
    3. Martinez, Steve & Hand, Michael & Da Pra, Michelle & Pollack, Susan & Ralston, Katherine & Smith, Travis & Vogel, Stephen & Clarke, Shellye & Lohr, Luanne & Low, Sarah & Newman, Constance, 2010. "Local food systems: concepts, impacts, and issues," MPRA Paper 24313, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. John T. Scholz & Cheng‐Lung Wang, 2006. "Cooptation or Transformation? Local Policy Networks and Federal Regulatory Enforcement," American Journal of Political Science, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 50(1), pages 81-97, January.
    5. Canning, Patrick N. & Charles, Ainsley & Huang, Sonja & Polenske, Karen R. & Waters, Arnold, 2010. "Energy Use in the U.S. Food System," Economic Research Report 59381, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    6. Low, Sarah A. & Adalja, Aaron & Beaulieu, Elizabeth & Key, Nigel & Martinez, Stephen & Melton, Alex & Perez, Agnes & Ralston, Katherine & Stewart, Hayden & Suttles, Shellye & Vogel, Stephen & Jablonsk, 2015. "Trends in U.S. Local and Regional Food Systems: Report to Congress," Administrative Publications 292107, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    7. Twiss, J. & Dickinson, J. & Duma, S. & Kleinman, T. & Paulsen, H. & Rilveria, L., 2003. "Community Gardens: Lessons Learned from California Healthy Cities and Communities," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 93(9), pages 1435-1438.
    8. Zepeda, Lydia & Li, Jinghan, 2007. "Characteristics of Organic Food Shoppers," Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Southern Agricultural Economics Association, vol. 39(1), pages 1-12, April.
    9. Zepeda, Lydia & Li, Jinghan, 2007. "Characteristics of Organic Food Shoppers," Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 39(1), pages 17-28, April.
    10. Delshad, Ashlie B. & Raymond, Leigh & Sawicki, Vanessa & Wegener, Duane T., 2010. "Public attitudes toward political and technological options for biofuels," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(7), pages 3414-3425, July.
    11. Wolf, Marianne McGarry & Spittler, Arianne & Ahern, James, 2005. "A Profile of Farmers' Market Consumers and the Perceived Advantages of Produce Sold at Farmers' Markets," Journal of Food Distribution Research, Food Distribution Research Society, vol. 36(1), pages 1-10, March.
    12. Canning, Patrick N., 2010. "Fuel for Food: Energy Use in the U.S. Food System," Amber Waves:The Economics of Food, Farming, Natural Resources, and Rural America, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, pages 1-6.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Erika Allen Wolters & Brent S. Steel & Muhammed Usman Amin Siddiqi & Melissa Symmes, 2022. "Public Water Policy Knowledge and Policy Preferences in the American West," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-20, February.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Printezis, Iryna & Grebitus, Carola, 2018. "Marketing Channels for Local Food," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 152(C), pages 161-171.
    2. Lydia Zepeda & Cong Nie, 2012. "What are the odds of being an organic or local food shopper? Multivariate analysis of US food shopper lifestyle segments," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 29(4), pages 467-480, December.
    3. John J. Metz & Sarah M. Scherer, 2022. "The rise and decline of farmers markets in greater Cincinnati," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 39(1), pages 95-117, March.
    4. Phillip Warsaw & Steven Archambault & Arden He & Stacy Miller, 2021. "The Economic, Social, and Environmental Impacts of Farmers Markets: Recent Evidence from the US," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-18, March.
    5. Filimonau, Viachaslau & Högström, Michaela, 2017. "The attitudes of UK tourists to the use of biofuels in civil aviation: An exploratory study," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 84-94.
    6. Carpio, Carlos E. & Mathews, Leah G. & Boonsaeng, Tullaya & Perrett, Allison & Descieux, Katie, 2015. "Evaluating the Marketing Impact of a Regional Branding Program Using Contingent Valuation Methods: The Case of the Appalachian Grown™ Branding Program," 2015 AAEA & WAEA Joint Annual Meeting, July 26-28, San Francisco, California 205800, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    7. Abbe Hamilton & Stephen B. Balogh & Adrienna Maxwell & Charles A. S. Hall, 2013. "Efficiency of Edible Agriculture in Canada and the U.S. Over the Past Three and Four Decades," Energies, MDPI, vol. 6(3), pages 1-30, March.
    8. Jessica Aschemann-Witzel & Stephan Zielke, 2017. "Can't Buy Me Green? A Review of Consumer Perceptions of and Behavior Toward the Price of Organic Food," Journal of Consumer Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 51(1), pages 211-251, March.
    9. Chen, Bo & Saghaian, Sayed, 2017. "Does Consumers’ Preference for Organic Foods Affect Their Store Format Choices?," 2017 Annual Meeting, February 4-7, 2017, Mobile, Alabama 252827, Southern Agricultural Economics Association.
    10. O'Hara, Jeffrey K. & Benson, Matthew, 2017. "Local Food Production and Farm to School Expenditures," 2017 Annual Meeting, February 4-7, 2017, Mobile, Alabama 252669, Southern Agricultural Economics Association.
    11. Boehm, Rebecca & Wilde, Parke E. & Ver Ploeg, Michele & Costello, Christine & Cash, Sean B., 2018. "A Comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from U.S. Household Food Choices," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 67-76.
    12. Enthoven, Laura & Van den Broeck, Goedele, 2021. "Local food systems: Reviewing two decades of research," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 193(C).
    13. Stewart, Hayden & Dong, Diansheng, 2018. "How strong is the demand for food through direct-to-consumer outlets?," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 35-43.
    14. Schrock, Rebecca, 2010. "Determinants Of The Demand For Organic And Conventional Fresh Milk In Germany– An Econometric Analysis," 115th Joint EAAE/AAEA Seminar, September 15-17, 2010, Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany 116387, European Association of Agricultural Economists.
    15. Eline Poelmans & Sandra Rousseau, 2017. "Beer and Organic Labels: Do Belgian Consumers Care?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(9), pages 1-15, August.
    16. Meyer, Andrew, 2015. "Does education increase pro-environmental behavior? Evidence from Europe," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 108-121.
    17. Brimlow, Jacob N. & Matson, James, 2015. "Buying Local? An exploratory analysis of barriers to local food sales from the perspective of intermediary buyers in California and North Carolina," 2015 AAEA & WAEA Joint Annual Meeting, July 26-28, San Francisco, California 205872, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    18. Rana, Jyoti & Paul, Justin, 2017. "Consumer behavior and purchase intention for organic food: A review and research agenda," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 157-165.
    19. Schroeck, Rebecca, 2011. "A Demand System Analysis of Organic and Conventional Fresh Milk in Germany Segmented by Consumer Groups," 2011 International Congress, August 30-September 2, 2011, Zurich, Switzerland 115995, European Association of Agricultural Economists.
    20. Spalding, Ashley & Kiesel, Kristin, 2018. "Willingness to Pay for Local, Value-Added Goods," 2018 Annual Meeting, August 5-7, Washington, D.C. 273990, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:13:p:6707-:d:579609. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.