Open research questions in Organic Food and Agriculture

What the literature leaves open

• Several factors limit the completeness and relevance of our data. First, it is possible that the incentives pro- vided for respondents to complete the survey may have influenced participation in the survey and inter- views. Though the survey response rate was high, it is unclear if there were systematic differences in partici- pation based on market characteristics, given these data are not publicly accessible. Our response rate to interview requests was lower than the survey, despite offering a more substantial incentive. Interview partic- ipants were less likely to represent multiple markets and it is possible their perspectives are thus under- represented in qualitative insights, but it is unclear if offering a larger incentive would have impacted partic- ipation patterns. Another key limitation is our selection of market managers as our only type of interviewee. Food assis- tance programming at markets may include other im- portant actors with whom we did not speak. For exam- ple, a few markets work with office managers who may be more familiar with administration and finances. Market managers in our sample reported a lack of fa- miliarity with the particulars of the FMNP program be- cause they did not directly accept the vouchers. California’s transition to electronic benefits distrib- ution and redemption for the WIC/Senior FMNP means that some of our data may be less applicable. Concerns around how checks are deposited at the bank, for example, are no longer relevant, and partici- pating farmers may experience a different set of chal- lenges and benefits now that they are required to use smart devices to accept benefits. Our survey itself had a number of limitations that could have been improved. Due to a technical error, markets that were not authorized to accept FMNP benefits were not asked about potential challenges and benefits. Our survey did not ask which “other in- centive programs” were funded by the CNIP, making it difficult to understand the extent of non-CNIP incen- tive or matching efforts. Beyond the limitations of the survey, we would have made several other improvements to the way data was collected. We would have expanded our qualitative in- quiry to incorporate perspectives from market ven- dors and other stakeholders to provide a more com- prehensive understanding of perceived challenges and benefits of participating in food assistance programs. We would also have collected data around market gov- ernance and ownership characteristics that would have made it easier to compare to similar studies, such as Gantla and Lev (2015).

  Accepting food assistance benefits varied by market operator type at Sacramento region farmers markets · 2026 · DOI

• This study was limited to food products sold in three chain supermarkets located in the province of Balıkesir. Therefore, the findings reflect only the retail environment of a single region and cannot be generalised to all supermarkets or geographical in Turkey. Additionally, the analysis only included products available on the shelves during the data collection period, potentially excluding seasonal or temporarily unavailable items. As the study relied solely on observational data and descriptive statistics, no causal inferences can be drawn about the factors influencing the presence or absence of sustainability-related logos. areas 1539 Onay et al.

  The Frequency of Sustainability Logos on Food Packaging in Chain Supermarkets in Turkey: The Balıkesir Example · 2026 · DOI

• However, it remains unclear whether GAP‐certified products are associated with organic‐certified product preferences or represent a distinct certified category.

  Are GAP‐Certified Eggs a Stepping Stone to Organic‐Certified Egg Consumption? Evidence From Egg Preferences in Türkiye · 2026 · DOI

• While vegetable box subscriptions have gained popularity as a contactless alternative during the COVID‐19 pandemic, little is known about how consumers value boxes from trust‐based, direct‐market channels compared to commercial platforms.

  Consumer Heterogeneity in Willingness to Pay for Farmers' Market Vegetable Boxes in Taiwan · 2026 · DOI

• This study is limited by a relatively small sample size (n = 63) and geographic focus on Eleuthera, which may restrict generalizability to the wider Bahamian population. Survey distribution partially relied on institutional networks, introducing potential sampling bias. Additionally, self-reported perceptions may be influenced by social desirability and prior exposure to sustainability education initiatives. Future research should expand sampling across multiple Bahamian islands and incorporate demographic stratification to improve representativeness.

  Fish out of water: consumer perceptions of aquaculture and food security in Eleuthera, The Bahamas · 2026 · DOI

• Limitations of this study are the fact that in our questionnaire we were interested in how the consumer viewed the purchase of organic food in general and not how they view the purchase of individual organic products and that the research may be limited by the fact that the questionnaire was aimed solely at the younger generation of consumers studying in Brno, the second largest city in the Czech Republic.

  The determinants of consumer behaviour of students from Brno when purchasing organic food · 2019 · DOI

• However, knowledge about consumer’s willingness to pay (WTP) for traditional varieties is scarce and the main research on this topic focuses on particular varieties making it difficult to generalize the results.

  The role of consumers in agrobiodiversity conservation: the case of traditional varieties of apples in Portugal · 2018 · DOI

• However, one of the challenges facing the private sector is to demonstrate the efficacy of FEI programmes in the face of limited information regarding consumer -psychographic characteristics including their attitudes, values, interests and beliefs.

  Consumers’ salient beliefs regarding foods from edible insects in Kenya: A qualitative study using concepts from the theory of planned behaviour · 2016 · DOI

• Two hypotheses based on theories of technology adoption are tested regarding the lack of fresh produce in low-income neighborhood stores: the first is that high fixed costs present a barrier for store owners in developing produce sections; the second is that there is insufficient consumer demand to cover the variable costs of a fresh produce section.

  Increasing Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Availability in a Low-Income Neighborhood Convenience Store: A Pilot Study · 2009 · DOI

• Although China is one of the world's largest producers and consumers of genetically modified (GM) crops and derived food products, little is known about the level of Chinese consumer awareness, understanding and acceptance of GM food.

  Biotechnology and Food Safety in China: Consumers' Acceptance or Resistance? · 2006 · DOI

• We investigate possible self-selection biases in over 36,000 open questionnaire responses on the risks and benefits of genetically modified crops and food obtained during GM Nation? A comparison sample of equivalent responses from a statistically representative sample (n = 1,363) of the British general public obtained shortly after the conclusion of the debate is reported.

  Using Surveys in Public Participation Processes for Risk Decision Making: The Case of the 2003 British GM Nation? Public Debate · 2005 · DOI

• Despite these potential advantages, consumer acceptance remains uncertain, particularly in countries where CM is not yet commercially available.

  Understanding University Students’ Willingness to Try Cultured Meat: Insights from Italy · 2026 · DOI

• The study led to the development of a novel model of sustainable food consumption and highlighted how knowledge and perception of green agro-food productsstill relatively unknown and understudied in Romaniapositively influence attitudes, consumption behaviour, and consumer well-being.

  The Role of Perception and Knowledge in Shaping Consumer Behaviour Toward Green Agro-Food Products in Romania and its Effect on Well-Being · 2025 · DOI

• While a conceptual consensus remains elusive, diverse definitions often share essential attributes such as “alterity,” “proximity,” “connectedness,” and “sustainability.

  Rethinking alternative food networks: unpacking key attributes and overlapping concepts · 2024 · DOI

• Originality/value This study outlines the individuals and organizations that make up the organic microAKIS in Germany, which has been underexplored in the fast-growing organic sector, and utilizes empirical evidence to display farmers’ perspectives.

  An empirical analysis of organic micro-level agricultural knowledge and innovation systems (microAKIS) in three federal states in Germany · 2024 · DOI

• ’ In order for this market to thrive, communicators and educators must strive to educate the public about these production practices; however, little is known about how to educate the public and market these climate-smart production techniques to the public.

  Using Audience Segmentation to Identify Target Audiences for Climate-Smart Beef Production Communication · 2024 · DOI

• Research background: There is limited knowledge about how cultural values influence organic food consumption, as well as how blockchain-enabled traceability facilitates this behavior.

  Exploring the role of cultural values on consumers’ organic food consumption: Does blockchain-enabled traceability matter? · 2024 · DOI

• However, variation in program context, program strategies, and participant populations has produced gaps in knowledge about which healthy food incentive program implementation strategies are most effective, and few studies have focused on farmers market vendors' experiences.

  Experiences of Farmers Market Vendors in a Healthy Food Incentive Program · 2023 · DOI

• However, limited evidence exists on the willingness of restaurants to invest in direct sourcing, the implications of these linkages, and the options to achieve scale.

  Challenges to “going local”: Lessons from direct food sourcing initiatives in Cusco, Peru · 2022 · DOI

• However, the evidence to support this is lacking, and no well-designed human study has shown any direct health benefits or disease prevention benefits from consuming organically produced food.

  Is Organic Food Good for Health and the Environment? · 2021 · DOI

• Previous empirical studies reveal conflicting results of estimating the price differential between locally produced foods and their imported counterparts.

  Price premium or price discount for locally produced food products? A 5W1H approach in meta‐analysis · 2021 · DOI

• Novelty: Both the range of considered policy instruments and the analysis of their acceptance in the context of selected behaviours and attitudes have not been previously studied and make up a new area of inquiry essential in the debate on sustainable food consumption.

  The Relationship Between Consumer Behaviour, Attitudes and Acceptance of Public Policy Tools Advancing Sustainable Food Consumption · 2020 · DOI

• Yet to date, few studies have directly addressed the question of whether marketing local food is actually associated with higher levels of civic engagement among farmers.

  Local Food and Civic Engagement: Do Farmers Who Market Local Food Feel More Responsible for Their Communities? · 2020 · DOI

• Very few studies on the CoQ in food manufacturing companies have been carried out in Greece and the present study makes the picture of the CoQ status in this sector more clear.

  Cost of quality measurement in food manufacturing companies: the Greek case · 2018 · DOI

• Little is known about the value of sustainably-produced rice and incentive mechanisms for the adoption of sustainable production standards throughout rice value chains in Southeast Asia.

  What is the value of sustainably-produced rice? Consumer evidence from experimental auctions in Vietnam · 2018 · DOI

Most-cited papers in Organic Food and Agriculture

• An analysis of farmers’ intention to use green pesticides: The application of the extended theory of planned behavior and health belief model · Journal of Rural Studies · 2020 · 234 citations
• The sustainability of “local” food: a review for policy-makers · Review of Agricultural Food and Environmental Studies · 2021 · 192 citations
• Consumer buying motives and attitudes towards organic food in two emerging markets · International Marketing Review · 2015 · 180 citations
• Listen to others or yourself? The role of personal norms on the effectiveness of social norm interventions to change pro-environmental behavior · Journal of Environmental Psychology · 2021 · 175 citations
• Consumer trust in the food value chain and its impact on consumer confidence: A model for assessing consumer trust and evidence from a 5-country study in Europe · Food Policy · 2020 · 165 citations
• Who Does the Public Trust? The Case of Genetically Modified Food in the United States · Risk Analysis · 2005 · 147 citations
• Organic food consumers' trade-offs between local or imported, conventional or organic products: a qualitative study in Shanghai · International Journal of Consumer Studies · 2011 · 133 citations
• Consumer purchasing behaviour of organic food in an emerging market · International Journal of Consumer Studies · 2020 · 133 citations
• Understanding organic food consumption: attitude as a mediator · International Journal of Consumer Studies · 2014 · 126 citations
• Health Consciousness, Food Safety Concern, and Consumer Purchase Intentions Toward Organic Food: The Role of Consumer Involvement and Ecological Motives · SAGE Open · 2021 · 126 citations

Most recent work

• A Study on Effective Tools for Marketing of Organic Food Products in Karnataka · International Journal For Multidisciplinary Research · 2026
• When everything looks green: consumer perceptions of organic label and unregulated sustainability related claims · Organic Agriculture · 2026
• Identifying and characterising social sustainability in the Dutch agricultural sector · Journal of Rural Studies · 2026
• Ecosystem Services in Food Labels: the Role of Different Information Layers in Shaping Consumers Preferences · ECONOMIA AGRO-ALIMENTARE · 2026
• Indigenous Market Participation in Commercial Retail: Traditional Foods as an Empirical Case and Entrepreneurship Possibility Space · Canadian Journal of Administrative Sciences / Revue Canadienne des Sciences de l'Administration · 2026
• Association Between Purchase of Organic Food and Hypertension Among US Adults: NHANES 2007-2010 · medRxiv · 2026
• Economic, social and environmental sustainability of farms in Poland. Does a short food supply chain matter? · Economics and Environment · 2026
• National identity and Turkish food consumption in Britain: evidence from structural equation modelling · National Identities · 2026
• Small wins for big challenges: role of organic agriculture governance in driving food system transformation · Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems · 2026
• Farmers' Perceptions of Marketing Functions Rendered by Cooperative Marketing Societies: A Five-Factor Model for Understanding Multi-Dimensional Service Quality · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · 2026

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