Work

Consumers' Motivations Driving Organic Demand: Between Self-interest and Sustainability

Year: 2016

Type: article

Abstract: We study consumers’ motivations for buying organic food by analyzing their shopping baskets. Buying organic can be motivated by concern about sustainable development and/or self-interest (considerations related to health or product quality). Pro-social motivation is inferred from the presence of fair trade products in the consumer's basket; consumer self-interest is deduced from the presence of healthy and higher-quality products bearing special quality labels or certifications. Our results indicate that environmental motivation predicts organic food purchases better than health or quality considerations: the complementarity between organic and fair trade products is strongest. In addition, the household's socioeconomic background influences secondary motivations.

Source: Agricultural and Resource Economics Review

DOI: 10.1017/age.2016.6

Authors: Sylvette Monier-Dilhan, Fabian Bergès

Institutions: Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Observatoire des Programmes Communautaires de Développement Rural

Language: English

Topic: Organic Food and Agriculture

Subfield: Plant Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Responsible consumption and production

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,600