Identifying viewpoints on innovation in low-input and organic dairy supply chains: A Q-methodological study

Abstract

In a rapidly changing ecological, economic and political environment, environmentally sustainable and energy-efficient farming systems are required (SCAR, 2008). The development and adoption of innovation are critical to improve the competitiveness of organic and low-input dairy systems. Understanding the viewpoints of dairy supply-chain members on acceptable innovation is important to be able to improve organic and low-input dairy supply chains. This study uses Stephenson?s Q methodology to investigate the opinions of organic and low-input dairy supply-chain members in relation to innovation in the dairy sector. A sample of dairy supply-chain members (consumers, farmers, retailers, processors) was recruited from each European country involved in the study (Belgium, Italy, Finland, the United Kingdom). On the one hand, the data show a high degree of consensus across all of the participants within the supply chain, for whom innovations were deemed not to be acceptable in organic (from an ethical and/or regulatory perspective) and low-input dairy systems. On the other hand, the consumer views of acceptable dairy innovations were centred around animal welfare, while the farmers and processors/retailers preferred innovations related to feed quality, feed efficiency, and soil management. This study illustrates the value of Q methodology in eliciting subjectivities about food-policy-related issues. Document embargo 14/10/2016.authorsversionPeer reviewe

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Determinants of the Acceptance of Sustainable Production Strategies in Conventional and Organic Dairying in Europe: An Empirical Analysis

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Contested sustainability standards in Indonesian agriculture

“…Q-methodology is gaining popularity in the sustainability domain and agricultural research. Examples of applications in these domains include research on sustainability and environmental discourses (Barry & Proops, 1999;Curry, Barry, & McClenaghan, 2013); organic farming (Mandolesi et al, 2015); and rural innovation and research (Hermans et al, 2012;Previte, Pini, & Haslam-McKenzie, 2007). Q-Methodology allows obtaining individual perspectives on sustainability and environmental issues and analyzing differences and similarities in perspectives on these matters.…”

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