European Perspectives on Public Benefit in Relation to Food: Insights from a Serious Game Approach

Lisa Mohebati (), Elisa Iori, Morten Haugaard, Violeta Stancu, Javier de la Cueva, Patrik Rovný, Erik Jansto, Clara Mehlhose, Alina Schäfer, Isabelle Weiß (), Charo Hodgkins, Monique Raats and Lada Timotijevic
Additional contact information
Lisa Mohebati: Food, Consumer Behaviour and Health Research Centre, School of Psychology, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK
Elisa Iori: Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Morten Haugaard: MAPP Centre, Department of Management, Aarhus University, 8210 Aarhus, Denmark
Violeta Stancu: MAPP Centre, Department of Management, Aarhus University, 8210 Aarhus, Denmark
Javier de la Cueva: Independent Researcher, 28043 Madrid, Spain
Patrik Rovný: Faculty of Economics and Management, Slovak University of Agriculture, 949 76 Nitra, Slovakia
Erik Jansto: Faculty of Economics and Management, Slovak University of Agriculture, 949 76 Nitra, Slovakia
Clara Mehlhose: Faculty of Agricultural Science, Department for Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, University of Göttingen, 37073 Göttingen, Germany
Alina Schäfer: Faculty of Agricultural Science, Department for Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, University of Göttingen, 37073 Göttingen, Germany
Charo Hodgkins: Food, Consumer Behaviour and Health Research Centre, School of Psychology, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK
Monique Raats: Food, Consumer Behaviour and Health Research Centre, School of Psychology, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK
Lada Timotijevic: Food, Consumer Behaviour and Health Research Centre, School of Psychology, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 21, 1-18

Abstract: There is limited understanding of what constitutes public benefit from the perspective of the public, and none that we are aware of related to food consumer science. The purpose of this study is to contribute towards a better understanding of public benefit as a whole and its connection to food choice, essential to driving progress towards responsible consumption and healthier diets. Public benefit, associated trade-offs and responsible actors were investigated via written questions, and food choice was explored during group discussions using the PlayDecide methodology. Adults (n = 105) were recruited in six European countries (Denmark, Germany, Italy, Slovakia, Spain and the UK) and stratified by attained education. Our findings indicate that assumptions should not be made that there is general consensus about what constitutes public benefit, especially with regard to consumer food choice. Group discussions around food-related freedom of choice, education, agency and responsibility suggested that private and public benefit are neither mutually exclusive nor automatically complementary. The serious game approach employed affected a change in participants’ public benefit perceptions, demonstrating its potential to better evaluate the connections between private interests and the common good through meaningful public deliberation.

Keywords: common good; food choice; consumer behaviour (SDG12); human health (SDG3); public engagement; esponsible Research and Innovation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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