Values and public acceptability dimensions of sustainable egg production

Abstract

The attributes of egg production that elicit values-based responses include the price and availability of eggs, environmental impacts, food safety or health concerns, and animal welfare. Different social groups have distinct interests regarding the sustainability of egg production that reflect these diverse values. Current scientifically based knowledge about how values and attitudes in these groups can be characterized is uneven and must be derived from studies conducted at varying times and using incomplete study methods. In general, some producer and consumer interests are translated through markets and are mediated by market mechanisms, whereas others are poorly reflected by economic behavior. An array of survey and focus group research has been performed to elicit consumer and activist beliefs about performance goals they would expect from an egg production system. These studies provide evidence that consumers' market behavior may be at odds with their ethical and political beliefs about performance goals.

The Ticking Clock: Addressing Farm Animal Welfare in Emerging Countries

“…solve one problem but create another. Given the challenges regarding social acceptability of intensive housing systems by many countries (Thompson et al 2011) we caution transitions that may be argued to be good for the environment but are associated with restriction of movement. In addition, the adoption of high production breeds adapted to temperate climates, without consideration for the animals' natural capacity to cope with the diseases and thermal challenges typical of tropical or subtropical climates will lead to compromised welfare and reduced production (Costa et al 2013;Eisler et al 2014).…”

“…Changes in current livestock production systems seem inevitable, driven initially by the notion that reductions in the environmental impact of livestock cannot be met by keeping 'business as usual' (Steinfeld et al 2006). However, how this will translate into practice, and the speed at which change will take place, is difficult to predict given that rapid cultural changes observed in public attitudes (Thompson et al 2011). The increasing role of social media campaigns will also likely play a role in the social acceptability of food animal production systems (Tonsor and Olynk 2011).…”

Sustainability of Youth Empowerment Projects: The Role of Project Governance in Makueni County, Kenya

“…Sustainability of a project could be measured with regard to social, economic, and environmental benefits to the necessary stakeholders. Project sustainability integrates economic, environmental, and social measures Sustainability is seen comprehensively as an essential understanding tool towards the economic, environmental and social concerns concomitant in the manner in which the projects and their support systems are constructed, designed, maintained, operated and eventually eliminated [Thompson et al, 2011]. It may be operationalized in relation to the users' intended flow of benefits, facilities' operational level, evidence of existing project outcome, project design and institutional support [Tian et al, 2013].…”

Integration: Valuing stakeholder input in setting priorities for socially sustainable egg production

“…To help lay the framework before the workshop, stakeholder participants were each provided with the SSEP study group white papers (Holt et al, 2011;Lay et al, 2011;Mench et al, 2011;Sumner et al, 2011;Thompson et al, 2011;Xin et al, 2011). At the workshop, and before engaging in scenario planning using INSPECT, participants were provided with a brief presentation of each white paper by the respective SSEP study group chair and a current overview of egg industry housing systems.…”

“…The stakeholders represented consumer groups, animal welfare groups, environmental groups, human health organizations, community food banks, groups concerned with sustainability and rural community development, food retailers, and egg producers. Before meeting, the stakeholders reviewed a background paper and the 5 white papers produced by each of the project study groups (Holt et al, 2011;Lay et al, 2011;Mench et al, 2011;Sumner et al, 2011;Thompson et al, 2011;Xin et al, 2011). The goal of the workshop was to obtain information and input into prioritizing research related to each sustainability area and to work through scenarios that would lead to the development of this integrated framework paper.…”