Browsing by Person "Stroebele-Benschop, Nanette"

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Market potential for organic dairy and meat products from “calf-friendly” dairy farms across different consumer segments
(2025) Herrler, Mareike; Chagunda, Mizeck G. G.; Stroebele-Benschop, Nanette
As public criticism of the management of surplus dairy calves increases, new approaches are required to improve calf welfare to maintain the dairy industry’s license to produce. Little is known about consumers’ willingness to buy (WTB) organic dairy and meat products from farms that aim to improve the welfare of surplus dairy calves. This study aims to address this research gap by identifying potential target groups for assessing the market potential of these products in south-west Germany. For this purpose, an online survey was conducted among 922 participants in this region. Participants were presented with one of three scenarios describing different rearing systems for dairy calves that hold the potential to provide enhanced calf welfare in comparison to current dairy farming practices: Cow-calf contact, the use of dual-purpose breeds and on-farm slaughter. Factor and cluster analyses were performed to identify potential target groups for organic dairy and meat products from these “calf-friendly” rearing systems. The four clusters Conscious organic shoppers, Moderate sustainability advocates, The indifferent consumers and the Interested organic refusers were identified. The findings indicate that organic consumers who care about calf welfare and prioritize product quality and sustainability when buying food are a promising target group for products from “calf-friendly” organic dairy farms. Consumers’ WTB seems to depend more on their general attitudes and financial means than on the presented scenarios. By identifying a potential target group for these products, this study fills a research gap and may contribute to more effective and targeted marketing.
Multidisciplinary study of the health and nutritional status of persons living in households at risk of poverty with children in Germany (MEGA_kids): study design and methods
(2024) Simmet, Anja; Ehret, Janine; Schleicher, Romy; Teut, Michael; Hummel, Gerrit; Bschaden, Andreas; Stroebele-Benschop, Nanette
Background: In Germany, the nutritional situation of adults and children living in households at risk of poverty has been insufficiently studied so far. Aim: The aim of the mixed-methods study MEGA_kids is to gain a deeper understanding of the nutritional situation including socioeconomic, behavioral, and attitudinal factors and health characteristics among persons living in families at risk of poverty. Method: MEGA_kids is a mixed-methods cross-sectional study consisting of four modules combining quantitative and qualitative methods. The first module (A) applies self-administered questionnaires to assess the individual's diet, household food insecurity, and several other factors among adults and children of 500 households. Cash receipts are used to assess household's food expenses. For the second module (B), a semistructured interview guide is used to identify factors influencing food security and nutritional quality from the perspective of a subsample of module A (n = 20). The third module (C) applies the participatory World Café technique to explore experiences and generate ideas for tailored support measures for a healthy diet from the perspective of 40 parents participating in module A. Finally, the fourth module (D) investigates the knowledge and usage of existing nutrition-related preventive measures among 200 parents at risk of poverty by using an online questionnaire. Conclusion: By providing a comprehensive picture of nutritional aspects of families living at risk of poverty, MEGA_kids will guide officials to target and prioritize public health nutrition measures, inform policy makers to implement and improve healthy policies and, finally, identify research gaps to be prioritized.