IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/tefoso/v211y2025ics0040162524007108.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Food innovation towards a sustainable world: A study on intention to purchase lab-grown meat

Author

Listed:
  • Castellani, Paola
  • Cassia, Fabio
  • Vargas-Sánchez, Alfonso
  • Giaretta, Elena

Abstract

Lab-grown meat has been proposed as a food innovation to meet Sustainable Development Goal 12 of moving towards more sustainable consumption and production patterns. However, although technological innovations in lab-grown meat are advancing, a better understanding is needed regarding the perspectives of potential consumers of this product. Specifically, whether the perceived higher environmental sustainability of this meat compared with conventional meat influences purchase intentions remains unclear. The effects of perceived risks must also be assessed. To address these knowledge gaps, we propose a model that draws on the theory of reasoned action and integrate it with potential consumers' perceptions of environmental sustainability and risks of lab-grown meat. We apply variance-based structural equation modelling using data from a sample of Italian consumers to evaluate the model's explanatory and predictive accuracy. The findings highlight the effects of environmental sustainability and perceived risks on purchase intentions and provide insights for policymakers and businesses.

Suggested Citation

  • Castellani, Paola & Cassia, Fabio & Vargas-Sánchez, Alfonso & Giaretta, Elena, 2025. "Food innovation towards a sustainable world: A study on intention to purchase lab-grown meat," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 211(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:tefoso:v:211:y:2025:i:c:s0040162524007108
    DOI: 10.1016/j.techfore.2024.123912
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0040162524007108
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.techfore.2024.123912?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Vargo, Stephen L. & Lusch, Robert F., 2017. "Service-dominant logic 2025," International Journal of Research in Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 34(1), pages 46-67.
    2. Catherine C. Ivanovich & Tianyi Sun & Doria R. Gordon & Ilissa B. Ocko, 2023. "Future warming from global food consumption," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 13(3), pages 297-302, March.
    3. Yang, Xin & Zhou, Xiaohe & Deng, Xiangzheng, 2022. "Modeling farmers’ adoption of low-carbon agricultural technology in Jianghan Plain, China: An examination of the theory of planned behavior," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 180(C).
    4. Piancharoenwong, Assanee & Badir, Yuosre F., 2024. "IoT smart farming adoption intention under climate change: The gain and loss perspective," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 200(C).
    5. Bauer, Jan M. & Aarestrup, Simon C. & Hansen, Pelle G. & Reisch, Lucia A., 2022. "Nudging more sustainable grocery purchases: Behavioural innovations in a supermarket setting," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    6. Shanmugavel, Nagarajan & Balakrishnan, Janarthanan, 2023. "Influence of pro-environmental behaviour towards behavioural intention of electric vehicles," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
    7. Reis, Germano Glufke & Heidemann, Marina Sucha & Borini, Felipe Mendes & Molento, Carla Forte Maiolino, 2020. "Livestock value chain in transition: Cultivated (cell-based) meat and the need for breakthrough capabilities," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 62(C).
    8. Rodríguez-Entrena, Macario & Salazar-Ordóñez, Melania & Sayadi, Samir, 2013. "Applying partial least squares to model genetically modified food purchase intentions in southern Spain consumers," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 40(C), pages 44-53.
    9. Reis, G.G. & Heidemann, M.S. & Goes, H.A.A. & Molento, C.F.M., 2021. "Can radical innovation mitigate environmental and animal welfare misconduct in global value chains? The case of cell-based tuna," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    10. Cassia, Fabio & Magno, Francesca, 2024. "The value of self-determination theory in marketing studies: Insights from the application of PLS-SEM and NCA to anti-food waste apps," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).
    11. Aschemann-Witzel, Jessica & Mulders, Maartje D.G.H. & Mouritzen, Simone Lykke Tranholm, 2023. "Outside-in and bottom-up: Using sustainability transitions to understand the development phases of mainstreaming plant-based in the food sector in a meat and dairy focused economy," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 197(C).
    12. Pang, Shinsiong & Chen, Mu-Chen, 2024. "Investigating the impact of consumer environmental consciousness on food supply chain: The case of plant-based meat alternatives," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 201(C).
    13. Antony Paulraj & Injazz J. Chen & Constantin Blome, 2017. "Motives and Performance Outcomes of Sustainable Supply Chain Management Practices: A Multi-theoretical Perspective," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 145(2), pages 239-258, October.
    14. Abbate, Stefano & Centobelli, Piera & Cerchione, Roberto, 2023. "The digital and sustainable transition of the agri-food sector," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
    15. United Nations UN, 2015. "Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development," Working Papers id:7559, eSocialSciences.
    16. Dal Mas, F. & Massaro, M. & Ndou, V. & Raguseo, E., 2023. "Blockchain technologies for sustainability in the agrifood sector: A literature review of academic research and business perspectives," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
    17. Luiz Morais-da-Silva, Rodrigo & Glufke Reis, Germano & Sanctorum, Hermes & Forte Maiolino Molento, Carla, 2022. "The social impacts of a transition from conventional to cultivated and plant-based meats: Evidence from Brazil," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    18. Jun-Hwa Cheah (Jacky) & Francesca Magno & Fabio Cassia, 2024. "Reviewing the SmartPLS 4 software: the latest features and enhancements," Journal of Marketing Analytics, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(1), pages 97-107, March.
    19. Paul, Justin & Modi, Ashwin & Patel, Jayesh, 2016. "Predicting green product consumption using theory of planned behavior and reasoned action," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 29(C), pages 123-134.
    20. Nadia Palmieri & Maria Angela Perito & Claudio Lupi, 2020. "Consumer acceptance of cultured meat: some hints from Italy," Post-Print hal-03385175, HAL.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. Schnack, Alexander & Bartsch, Fabian & Osburg, Victoria-Sophie & Errmann, Amy, 2024. "Sustainable agricultural technologies of the future: Determination of adoption readiness for different consumer groups," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 208(C).
    2. Reis, Germano Glufke & Villar, Eduardo Guedes & Prado Gimenez, Fernando Antonio & Maiolino Molento, Carla Forte & Ferri, Priscila, 2022. "The interplay of entrepreneurial ecosystems and global value chains: Insights from the cultivated meat entrepreneurial ecosystem of Singapore," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    3. Magno, Francesca & Cassia, Fabio, 2024. "Predicting restaurants’ surplus food platform continuance: Insights from the combined use of PLS-SEM and NCA and predictive model comparisons," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    4. Keerthi Police & Vikas Gautam & Sagar Chandakavate & Rishi Dwesar, 2024. "Modeling determinants of farmers’ purchase behavior: A case of chemical pesticides," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(4), pages 9217-9245, April.
    5. Cassia, Fabio & Magno, Francesca, 2024. "The value of self-determination theory in marketing studies: Insights from the application of PLS-SEM and NCA to anti-food waste apps," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).
    6. Brennan, Michael & Rondón-Sulbarán, Janeet, 2019. "Transdisciplinary research: Exploring impact, knowledge and quality in the early stages of a sustainable development project," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 481-491.
    7. Stöckigt, Gerrit & Schiebener, Johannes & Brand, Matthias, 2018. "Providing sustainability information in shopping situations contributes to sustainable decision making: An empirical study with choice-based conjoint analyses," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 188-199.
    8. Joana Gonçalves & Ricardo Mateus & José Dinis Silvestre & Ana Pereira Roders, 2020. "Going beyond Good Intentions for the Sustainable Conservation of Built Heritage: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-28, November.
    9. Nekmahmud, Md. & Naz, Farheen & Ramkissoon, Haywantee & Fekete-Farkas, Maria, 2022. "Transforming consumers' intention to purchase green products: Role of social media," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 185(C).
    10. Edwin Chukwuemeka Idoko & Chukwunonso Oraedu & Christian Chidera Ugwuanyi & Stephen Ikechukwu Ukenna, 2021. "Determinants of Smart Meter on Sustainable Energy Consumption Behavior: A Developing Country Perspective," SAGE Open, , vol. 11(3), pages 21582440211, July.
    11. Bowen Qin & Ge Song, 2022. "Internal Motivations, External Contexts, and Sustainable Consumption Behavior in China—Based on the TPB-ABC Integration Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-19, June.
    12. Kumar, Vikas & Kaushik, Arun Kumar & Noravesh, Farima & Sindhwani, Rahul & Mathiyazhagan, K., 2025. "Green drives: Understanding how environmental propensity, range and technological anxiety shape electric vehicle adoption intentions," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 210(C).
    13. Rodrigo Luiz Morais-da-Silva & Eduardo Guedes Villar & Germano Glufke Reis & Hermes Sanctorum & Carla Forte Maiolino Molento, 2022. "The expected impact of cultivated and plant-based meats on jobs: the views of experts from Brazil, the United States and Europe," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 9(1), pages 1-14, December.
    14. Schulze, M. & Janssen, M. & Aschemann-Witzel, J., 2024. "How to move the transition to sustainable food consumption towards a societal tipping point," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 203(C).
    15. Räty, Niko & Tuomisto, Hanna L. & Ryynänen, Toni, 2023. "On what basis is it agriculture?," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 196(C).
    16. Mehta, Nikhil Kewal Krishna & Sharma, Rohit & Cruz, Angel Contreras & Daim, Tugrul U., 2025. "Analyzing the impact of intelligence and technological factors on farmers' sustainable purchasing behavior," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 210(C).
    17. Paulina Schiappacasse & Bernhard Müller & Le Thuy Linh, 2019. "Towards Responsible Aggregate Mining in Vietnam," Resources, MDPI, vol. 8(3), pages 1-15, August.
    18. Pina Puntillo, 2023. "Circular economy business models: Towards achieving sustainable development goals in the waste management sector—Empirical evidence and theoretical implications," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(2), pages 941-954, March.
    19. R. Ebrahimi & S. Choobchian & H. Farhadian & I. Goli & E. Farmandeh & H. Azadi, 2022. "Investigating the effect of vocational education and training on rural women’s empowerment," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 9(1), pages 1-11, December.
    20. Lampros Lamprinidis, 2025. "Socially Responsible Public Procurement and the Social Economy: European and Global Institutional Approaches," Journal of Public Policy and Administration, IPRJB, vol. 10(1), pages 46-62.

    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:eee:tefoso:v:211:y:2025:i:c:s0040162524007108. 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: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00401625 .

    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.