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Sustainability Framing of Controlled Environment Agriculture and Consumer Perceptions: A Review

Author

Listed:
  • Caixia Ivy Gan

    (Stakeholder and Consumer Research Team, The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, Auckland 1025, New Zealand)

  • Ruth Soukoutou

    (Stakeholder and Consumer Research Team, The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, Auckland 1025, New Zealand)

  • Denise Maria Conroy

    (Stakeholder and Consumer Research Team, The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, Auckland 1025, New Zealand)

Abstract

The ongoing criticism of conventional agricultural activities being unsustainable in the face of climate change and global population growth has been one of the key drivers for technological innovation in this space. Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA), especially in the high-tech form of vertical farming, as a new agri-food technology, has been positioned as a sustainable solution to the dilemma of feeding the world and preserving the planet. Acknowledging sustainability as a multi-dimensional concept encompassing environmental, economic, social, and cultural aspects, this review briefly outlines the evolving meaning of sustainability, and how CEA has been framed as sustainable in the literature. Specifically, the review examines studies that have investigated consumer perceptions and acceptance of CEA and discussed how sustainability features of CEA were presented to consumers in a diverse way across these studies. The review highlights that the social and cultural dimensions of sustainability were largely neglected not only in research that focused on the development of CEA, but also in the exploration of consumers’ perceptions of CEA. A more holistic examination of the sustainability of CEA and a comprehensive understanding from consumers is important for transitioning towards more sustainable production systems enabled by new technologies such as CEA.

Suggested Citation

  • Caixia Ivy Gan & Ruth Soukoutou & Denise Maria Conroy, 2022. "Sustainability Framing of Controlled Environment Agriculture and Consumer Perceptions: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-17, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2022:i:1:p:304-:d:1014069
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    References listed on IDEAS

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