The issues related to the quality and value of food, the protection of the planet and climate change, are now of extraordinary relevance : but what are then translated into conscious choices and correct behavior
The Food Citizenship, or food citizenship, consists in greater interaction between the productive world and citizens / consumers to raise awareness of the impact that the various agricultural production systems can have on the environment, taking into consideration not only agronomic practices, but above all the role played by the use of natural resources by of the entire agri-food chain (from production to consumption). The paradigm shift you hear about, therefore, to achievegreater sustainability means rethinking and redesigning agri-food systems, orienting them towards the right to food, the enhancement of territoriality and the protection of agro-ecosystems from degradation. And what emerges in the study Food Citizenship as an Agroecological Tool for Food System Re-Design (Food citizenship as an agroecological tool for the redesign of the food system) carried out by CREA, with its Agriculture and Environment and Food and Nutrition centers, just published in the Sustainability international magazine. The study
The distribution of an online questionnaire with 35 questions made it possible to investigate two main issues: the first concerns the level of awareness of the consequences of our food choiceson the environment, the perceived subjective knowledge of organic food, of the cost of organic food and of the most relevant factors in food purchases; the second, the detailed profiling of the consumption of fresh and fourth range organic fruit and vegetables. The questionnaire was attended by over 500 citizens distributed throughout the country from North to South – respectively 43% in the North, 38% in the Center and 19% in the South – and mainly residents (over 80%) in small and large cities. . Mainly women (80%), in the 50-69 age group (60%), with a medium (secondary education diploma, 47%) and high (university degree, 41%) level of education were interviewed. . The results
The elaboration made it possible to identify 2 main groupsdepending on the higher (55.4% of the total sample) and lower (44.6% of the total) aptitude to recognize the environmental impact of one’s food choices. The group with a more responsible approach towards the environment is also more aware that their food spending choices can reduce the negative impact on biodiversity and global warming. The younger age groups are part of it (9% aged 18-29 and 37.2% aged 30-49 against, respectively, 6.2% and 26.3% of the other group). The most attentive to the consequences of their choices have also shown a greater sensitivity towards the social aspects of their food purchases, revealing, in particular, a lesser attraction towards promotional offers.(only 23%, in fact, recognized its importance, compared to 40% of the other group), probably also because they produce potentially disadvantageous effects for agricultural producers, the weakest link and with less bargaining power in the agri-food system modern. The most attentive are also those who consume more organic vegetables (31.4% consume them both several times a month and several times a week) and for the longest time (50% against 22.4%) and with a greater willingness to pay a higher price than conventional food products (76.3% against 67.3% are willing to pay 25% more; 8.8% against 2.6% even 50% more).
“The study of consumer food awareness – commented Fabio Tittarelli, researcher at CREA Agriculture and Environment and coordinator of the study – is the first step towards a paradigm change that leads people to perceive themselves no longer as mere consumers aimed at satisfying of personal needs, but as of citizens who consume food, associating the purchase of food with an ethical and social dimension to guarantee all the players in the supply chain. It is in this perspective that the implementation of the concept of Food Citizenship can be considered a tool of agroecology, useful for redesigning the current agri-food system ».
