Classifying Consumer Purchasing Decision for Imported Ready-to-Eat Foods in China Using Comparative Models

This study aims to identify factors influencing consumer purchasing decision for imported ready-to-eat foods by investigating marketing factors and lifestyles in China (Beijing and Shanghai) using comparative models. Consumers in each city showed different specific lifestyles but shared consumption culture and traditions in common. Regarding lifestyles, consumers who usually buy instant food products face long commutes to work and prefer less cooking time were more likely to buy imported ready-to-eat foods. Findings suggest that product development, labelling with quality guarantees, packaging design, the production process, and multichannels are the prominent factors persuading Chinese consumers to purchase imported ready-to-eat products.     

Consumer reactions to the availability of organic food in discount supermarkets

The market for organic food products in industrial countries has changed significantly. Conventional grocery stores have entered this market in recent years and now present an alternative point of purchase to farmers’ markets and specialized health food shops. In Germany, the main newcomers in this field are the discount supermarkets. The question is whether the increased supply of organic food products leads to sustained effects on consumer behaviour. In other words, can a first‐time purchase of organic products at a discounter act as an ‘icebreaker’ and induce further purchases? This question is addressed here. A consumer survey (n = 231) indicates that an initial purchase of organic food in a discount store is indeed very likely to lead to follow‐up purchases. The link shown is statistically significant. Furthermore, customers are very interested in the availability of locally grown products, reliable information and easy comparison with non‐organic products. Important recommendations concerning organic product range, display and information, especially for retailers, can be deducted.     

Food-Related Lifestyle Segments in Ireland with a Convenience Orientation

Abstract

This paper reports on an investigation into the convenience orientation of various food-related lifestyle segments in Ireland. The food-related lifestyle instrument developed by the Centre for research on customer relations in the food sector (MAPP Institute in Denmark) provided a valuable framework for the development of this analysis.

This instrument was applied in Ireland in 2001, with a nationally representative sample of one thousand Irish consumers. Six distinct food-related lifestyle segments were identified (Ryan, 2002). The lifestyle instrument grouped consumers in terms of their attitudes towards the purchase, preparation and consumption of food products in general.

This research investigates the degree to which these food-related lifestyle segments are convenience-oriented by investigating their attitudes towards convenience and their purchase frequency for a range of convenience foods. The convenience element was developed following a review of the Irish convenience food market, which highlighted a number of convenience-related food issues driving this market. This study identified the food-related lifestyle segments that were particularly convenient oriented. These segments were further explained by relating their purchase frequency for a range of convenience products.

The attitudes of the various food-related lifestyle segments towards convenience foods and purchase frequencies for convenience foods differed. Three of the food-related lifestyle segments were identified as having a convenience orientation, namely the hedonistic, the extremely uninvolved and the adventurous segments.     

杭州城市湿地沉积物碳、氮垂向分布特征研究

2012年6月采集了杭州市西溪I期、II期、III期及和睦湿地柱状沉积物样品,研究沉积物中有机碳、全氮含量的垂向分布特征及影响因素。结果表明,西溪湿地I期、II期、III期及和睦湿地柱状沉积物样层理明显,沉积特征变化不大,剖面各层容重随沉积物深度增加均呈“S”型增长趋势;沉积物中有机碳的含量和密度均以0～10 cm层最高,全氮含量均以0～5 cm层较高;有机碳储量大小顺序为西溪湿地III期＆gt;和睦湿地＆gt;西溪湿地I期＆gt;西溪湿地II期;总氮储量大小顺序为和睦湿地＆gt;西溪湿地III期＆gt;西溪湿地II期＆gt;西溪湿地I期。相关分析表明,沉积物中有机碳含量与全氮含量呈显著线性相关,两者均与沉积物深度或容重呈指数式负相关关系。人为扰动明显降低了西溪湿地I、II期沉积物中的碳、氮含量及储存。     

国际食品法典委员会（CAC）婴幼儿食品标准跟踪研究

文章简要介绍了CAC与我国婴幼儿食品标准状况,研究分析了我国婴幼儿食品标准与CAC标准间的差距,为改进和完善我国婴幼儿食品标准提出了意见和建议。     

The geography of market failure: Edge-effect externalities and the location and production patterns of organic farming

Perceptions of increasing land scarcity and negative impacts of chemical-based agriculture have led to increasing concern regarding the sustainability of food systems. Incompatible production processes among farming systems may lead to spatial conflicts and production losses between neighboring farms, and the magnitude of such losses may depend not only on the scale of each activity, but also on patterns of land use. Such conflicts can be classified as “edge-effect externalities”—spatial externalities whose marginal impacts decrease as distance from the border generating the negative impact increases. This paper tests the hypothesis that edge-effect externalities have influenced the location and production patterns of certified organic farms, using data from California Central Valley certified organic farmers. Using concepts from landscape ecology and spatial statistics, we investigate difference in parcel geometry and surrounding land uses between organic and non-organic parcels. Using a generalized method of moments (GMM) spatially autoregressive econometric model, we demonstrate that both parcel geometry and surrounding land uses influence the probability of a given parcel being certified organic. We conclude with suggestions for policies to encourage development of organic farming regions.     

有机质在矿床形成中的作用

本文在前人研究工作的基础上，对有机质参与矿化的作用和方式进行了论述，初步总结出有机质在矿床形成中通过吸附（吸收）作用、络合作用及还原作用等参与了金属的搬运、迁移和沉淀．在世界一些重要矿床类型，如铀矿、金矿、铅锌矿和铜矿的富集中，有机质通过上述三种方式对矿化可能起了重要的作用．     

Critical factors and pathways influencing genetically modified food risk perceptions

This study aims to identify the critical factors and paths that affect the Chinese public’s risk perceptions of genetically modified (GM) foods from an emotional appraisal perspective. Using an experiment conducted with university undergraduate business students in China, we examined the evaluative pathways of the Chinese public by manipulating fairness and controllability appraisals in scenarios constructed about GM foods risk. The experiment was designed around two evaluative pathways – consequentialist and deontological perspectives – focusing on controllability and fairness. This led to a distinct set of emotional responses. It was found that both consequence-based and morality-based emotions caused stronger perceived risks toward GM foods. Understanding these responses provides new insight into how scientists and experts in China might best frame their communications about GM foods.     

The Organic Food Premium: A Local Assessment in the UK

The present study combines stated and revealed preferences in order to estimate the hypothetical bias of a sample of organic food consumers from Canterbury in the UK. It uses contingent valuation and hedonic pricing to compare stated and revealed preferences, and employs the Almost Ideal Demand System to estimate the elasticity of organic products. The results show that the average price premium is fairly large (approximately 10%). They also demonstrate, crucially, that the size of this estimate is encouragingly similar whether a willingness-to-pay or hedonic pricing method is used. The estimated elasticity of organic products is on average >1, suggesting an elastic response to pricing policy in the present sample. Desirable next steps and potential policy applications for future research are also discussed.