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| Overall strategic objectives The aims of this project are to develop the understanding and practices of supra-national institutions in relation to the enhancement of consumer trust in European food, and, to take account of institutional arrangements country by country, and in the EU. The study will consequently provide an important contribution to the steps outlined by the White Paper on Food Safety, the new European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the new European Food Law. Furthermore, the evidence it will provide will illuminate systematic and historically embedded variations in the social, economic and political conditions for the production of trust. The consequences of EU policy initiatives will also be more fully appreciated. In light of these aims an effective relationship will be established with the relevant stakeholders, services in the Commission (e.g. DG Health and Consumer Protection, DG Agriculture, DG Enterprises, DG Research), the European Food Authority, and the European standardisation body CEN. These links will ensure the successful dissemination and exploitation of its results. |
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Overall scientific objectives The overall objective is to investigate the social and institutional conditions for the production and maintenance of consumer trust in food. The project is thus directed towards the identification and analysis of factors that determine trust in the food supply and in information sources. These factors include e.g. the roles of market actors, public authorities, consumers and consumer organisations. |
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Research design and dissemination Comparative analyses including several types of data will be carried out. Representative consumer surveys will be conducted in six European countries -Denmark, Germany, Italy, Norway, Portugal and the UK. Institutional studies (documents, interviews) of policy and market strategies will include country and EU levels. Two cases are focused: beef - a sector in crisis and transformation, and tomatoes - a less challenged sector. In the identification and application of trust enhancing strategies, a dialogue with European consumer groups and public authorities is emphasised. These, together with SMEs, other stakeholders, relevant Commission services (e.g. DG Consumer Protection, DG Agriculture, DG Enterprises, DG Research), the future European Food Authority, the European Standardisation Body CEN, WHO, FAO, JECFA, and other relevant and possible end-users represent target groups in the dissemination program. |
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Expected impacts The project will provide a multi-faceted, interdisciplinary analysis of the basis of consumer trust and distrust in food provision in contemporary Europe, with particular focus on the effects of different institutional arrangements. It will provide a policy-relevant appreciation of the role of citizens and consumer organisations in articulating the interests of consumers in the purpose of establishing a trustworthy European food system, and also a critical analysis of alternative strategies for handling trust and distrust by the various actors in the food system. |