Consumers’ Attitudes Towards 3D Printed Meat

Bc. Wahaj Muhammad

Master's thesis

Abstract:

Although meat consumption is increasing worldwide, recent studies show that a significant proportion of European consumers are willing to reduce their meat consumption. High level of meat consumption is linked with health risks, while conventional livestock production is linked with high levels of greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, biodiversity loss, food safety risks, and overall negative impact on the climate. 3D printed meat has the potential to offset the negatives of conventional livestock production. Given the limited literature about consumer attitudes towards 3D printed food products, the main purpose of this study is to develop an understanding of consumers’ attitudes toward 3D-printed meat by young Czech consumers. An online cross-sectional survey was used in combination with convenience sampling method and a total of 182 responses were collected. Although there is a relatively large knowledge of 3D printers among the respondents, their knowledge of printed food and especially meat is significantly lower. Familiarity with the technology, previous knowledge, and previous experience were identified as important factors that influence consumer acceptance of 3D printed meat. Price and taste were found to be the most important factor determining consumer attitude towards both conventional and 3D printed meat. Overall, there is a high willingness to try 3D printed food products and a lower willingness to try 3D printed meat products among the respondents. No meat eaters expressed low willingness to try 3D printed meat which could be credited to the debate around the legitimacy of cultured meat as a viable “vegetarian” alternative to conventional meat).

Keywords

consumer willingness to try, food consumption, meat consumption habits, the Czech Republic, 3D food products

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 23. 4. 2023

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 30. 5. 2023
• Supervisor: Ing. Petra Chaloupková, Ph.D. dr. h. c.
• Reader: Claire Durand, externi

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences

Master programme:
International Development and Agricultural Economics