Duration:                    01.07.1998 - 30.06.2001

Objectives and methodology:

OBJECTIVES:

The project aims assess the nature and magnitude of consumer concerns about animal welfare within a cross-section of EU member states, assess the impact on choice of animal-based food products and suggest strategies by which consumer concerns can be addressed. In particular, the project will:

1. Identify the nature of consumer concerns about animal welfare within a cross-section of EU member states.
2. Assess the differences and similarities in consumer concerns about animal welfare, between consumers both within and across EU member states.
3. Identify the relationship between consumer concerns about animal welfare and the methods used to rear and transport animals.
4. Assess the knowledge of consumers about the actual practices employed to rear and transport farm animals.
5. Assess the trade-off between animal welfare, price and other product characteristics in choice of animal-based food products.
6. Assess the impact of changes in the methods used to rear and transport animals on the potential choice of animal-based food products.
7. Find potential strategies through which policymakers, producers of animal-based food products and retailers can address consumer concerns about the welfare of animals produced for human consumption.

METHODOLOGY AND RESEARCH TASKS:

The project involves a comparison of consumer concerns about the welfare of animals produced for human consumption in five study countries:
1) United Kingdom; 2) Ireland; 3) France; 4) Italy; and 5) Germany. The study is sub-divided into seven stages; the stages are initially qualitative in nature and become increasingly quantitative as the project progresses. A variety of research methods are employed including focus groups, in-depth interviews and a representative sample survey.

Spencer Henson
Department of Agricultural and Food Economics The University of Reading
4 Earley Gate Whiteknights Road PO Box 237

Telephone:    + 44-118-9316775
FAX:            + 44-118-9756467
e-mail:            s.j.henson@rdg.ac.uk
 

Cathal Cowan
National Food Centre Dunsinea
Castleknock Dublin 2 Ireland

Telephone:    + 353-1-
FAX:            + 353-1-8383684
e-mail:            c.cowan@nfc.teagasc.ie
 

Mara Miele
Dipartimento di Economia dell Agrocultura, Ambiente Agro-Forestale e Territorio
Via del Borghetto 80 56124 Pisa Italy

Telephone:    + 39-50-571553
FAX:            + 39-50-571344
e-mail:            mielemar@deag.unipi.it
 

Reimar von Alvensleben
Florian Köhler
Institut für Agrarökonomie der Universität Kiel
Olshausenstr. 40 D-24098 Kiel Germany

Telephone:    + 49-431-8804415
Telephone:    + 49-431-8801577
FAX:            + 49-431-8804414
e-mail:            valvensleben@agric-econ.uni-kiel.de
e-mail:            fkoehler@agric-econ.uni-kiel.de
 

Arouna Ouedraogo
Laboratoire de Recherche sur la Consommation INRA
63-65 Boulevard de la Brandebourg 94205 Ivry dur Seine Cedex France

Telephone:    + 33-1-49596978
FAX:            + 33-1-49596990
e-mail:            Arouna.Ouedraogo@ivry.inra.fr
 

Mick Sloyan
Meat and Livestock Commission
Winterhill House PO Box 44 Snowdon Drive Winterhill
Milton Keynes MK6 1AX

Telephone:    + 44-1980-844158
FAX:            + 44-1980-692856
e-mail:
 

John Keane
An Bord Bia Clanwilliam Court Lower Maunt Street
Dublin 2 Ireland

Telephone:    + 353-1-6685155
FAX:            + 353-1-6687521
e-mail:

David Wilkins
Eurogroup for Animal Welfare
13 rue Boduognat B-1000 Brussels Belgium

Telephone:    + 32-2-2311388
FAX:            + 32-2-2301700
e-mail:

to the top