Tunisian Consumer Quality Perception and Preferences for Dairy Products: Do Health and Sustainability Matter?

Abstract

Consumer awareness about dairy quality increased in the last years, specifically after recent food incidents worldwide (aflatoxin contamination in Europe, 2013, E. coli outbreak in the USA, 2015). In Tunisia, food security and sustainability are at the center of agricultural and food strategies. Therefore, data collected from a face-to-face survey of 214 participants in three cities of Tunisia were analyzed with the aim to identify the general trends of dairy consumption in Tunisia. A factor analysis was conducted to define the way consumers perceive the concept of dairy quality with regards to health and sustainability perceptions. Then, by means of cluster analysis we explore the existence of specific consumer types in relation to dairy quality perceptions, with clear-cut and statistically solid socio-demographic and behavioral profile. Three consumer types were highlighted to evaluate dairy quality, based on different quality dimensions, such as health and sustainability, experience, visible quality, brand name, price and innovation. The results show the emergence of a specific segment of young and older consumers, more educated, and with health and sustainability concerns toward dairy quality.

Pomological and Olive Oil Quality Characteristics Evaluation under Short Time Irrigation of Olive Trees cv. Chemlali with Untreated Industrial Poultry Wastewater

“…is grown in the warm coastal zone and in the lower steppe. It represents nearly 85% of olive plantations and contributes to more than 80% of the national production of olive oil [10,11]. The management of olive trees is essentially rain-fed, however, previous studies have shown that irrigation can increase fruit tree productivity and oil content [12,13].…”

Can Small-Scale Dairy Farm Profitability Increase with the Use of Solar Energy Technology? An Experimental Study in Central Tunisia

“…According to recent available data [3], the dairy sector contributed approximately 11% to total agricultural production, 25% to total animal production, and 7% to the value of the food industry in 2017. Moreover, this sector plays a crucial role in employment, serving of the food industry in 2017.…”

“…Moreover, this sector plays a crucial role in serving as the main source of livelihood for many farmers in rural areas of ploys 112,000 dairy farmers (more than 30% of agricultural jobs), in additi erated by the dairy industry and the sector as a whole. From an economic p dairy industry holds a significant position in the country's economy, accou of agricultural employment [3,4], with a total production of 1.42 million l 2020. Furthermore, daily milk consumption has been steadily increasin 268,000 L in 1985 to 1.4 million liters per day in 2015.…”