International Journal of Education and Management Studies

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access
Open Access Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Restricted Access Subscription Access

The Impact of Environmental Concerns, Health Concerns and Knowledge of Organic Food on Intention to Buy Organic Food


Affiliations
1 Department of Management Studies, Pondicherry University, Puducherry, India
     

   Subscribe/Renew Journal


Purpose: Prominence on organic foods is growing day by day as the awareness for health and environment is snowballing. Organic foods are more common in western countries but it is still in nascent stage in India. This paper attempts to find significant relationship of the predictors (knowledge about organic food, health concern and environmental concerns) on intentions to buy organic food. Structured questionnaire was administered to get responses using mall intercept survey method. A total of 204 responses came. Out of three independent variables under study namely knowledge, health concerns and environmental concerns, only two were found to affect the intention. The value of regression coefficients for environmental concern was lowest (b = 0.075, p>0.05) which means it is not having an impact on intentions directly. Health concern was found to have highest impact on intention b= .614, p<.05). The study is confined to Pondicherry area only but provides important information about intentions towards organic food. The study would be helpful for mall owners, Retail outlets, super markets and restaurants in identifying the significant predictors of intention to buy organic food of consumers. This paper revisits the applicability of predictors of intention to buy organic food in the proposed model in Indian context.

Keywords

Organic Foods, Consumption Pattem, Health Concerns.
Subscription Login to verify subscription
User
Notifications
Font Size


  • Ajzen, I. (1985). From intentions to actions: A theory of planned behaviour (pp. 11-39). Springer Berlin Heidelberg

  • Brcic-Stipcevic, V., & Petljak, K. (2012). An empirical analysis of consumer awareness and trust in organic food legislation in Croatia. Log Forum, 8(3), 247-256.

  • Brcic-Stipcevic, V., & Petljak;, K. (2011). Research on organic food purchase in Croatia. Trziste, 2,189-207.

  • Chakrabarti, S., & Baisya, R. K. (2007). Purchase Motivations and Attitudes of Organic Food Buyers. Decision (0304-0941), 34(1).

  • Cicia, G., Del Giudice, T., & Scarpa;, R. (2002). Consumers' perception of quality in organic food: a random utility model under preference heterogeneity and choice correlation from rank-orderings. British Food Journal 104(3/4/5),200-213.

  • Chen, M. F. (2007). Consumer attitudes and purchase intentions in relation to organic foods in Taiwan: moderating effects of food-related personality traits. Food Quality and Preference,18(7), 1008-1021

  • Ekelund, L. 1989. Vegetable consumption and consumer attitudes towards organically grown vegetables-the case of Sweden. Acta Horticulturae,259,163-72.

  • Giles,M., & Cairns,E. 1995.

  • Blood donation and Ajzen's theory of planned behaviour: An examination of perceived behavioural control. British Journal of Social Psychology, 34, 173-188.

  • Grunert, K.G., & Kristensen, K. (1991). On some factors influencing consumers' demand for organically grown foods. In Mayer, RN. (Ed.), Enhancing Consumer Choice, American Council on Consumer Interests (pp. 37-48). Columbia, MI.

  • Gerstman & Meyers Inc. (1989). Consumer solid waste management: awareness, attitude and behavior study. Gerstman and Meyers Inc., New York, NY.

  • '

  • Gratia, A, & de Magistris, T. (2007). Organic food product purchase behaviour: a pilot study for urban consumers in the South of Italy. Spanish Journal of Agricultural

  • Research, 5(4), 439-51.

  • Schifferstein, H.N.J., & Oude Ophuis, P.A.M. (1998). Health-related determinants of organic food consumption in The Netherlands. Food Quality and Preference,

  • (3), 119-33.

  • Tregear, A. Dent, J.B., & McGregor, MJ. (1994). The demand for organically grown produce.British Food Journal, 96(A), 21-5.

  • Von Alvensleben, R. (1998). Ecological aspects of food demand: the case of organic food in Germany. AIR-CAT 4th Plenary Meeting. Healthy, Economic, safety aspects in Food Choice, 4(1), 68-79.

  • Gil, J. M., Gratia, A., & Sanchez, M. (2000). Market segmentation and willingness to pay for organic products in Spain. The International Food and Agribusiness Management Review, 3(2), 207-226.

  • Gliem, J. A., & Gliem, R. R (2003). Calculating, interpreting, and reporting Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient for likert-type scales. Midwest Research-to-Practice Conference inAdult, Continuing, and Community Education.

  • Huang, C. L. (1996). Consumer preferences and attitudes towards organically grown Woduce.European Review of Agricultural Economics, 23(3), 33l-342

  • Jolly, D.A. (1991). Determinants of organic horticultural products consumption based on a sample of Califomia consumers. Acta Horiculture, 295,411-48.

  • Magnusson, M. K., Arvola, A., Hursti, U. K. K., Aberg, L., & Sjoden;, P. O. (2003). Choice of organic foods is related to perceived consequences for human health and to environmentally friendly behaviour. Appetite , 40(2), 109-117.

  • Mandese,J.(1991).New study finds green confusion, Advertising age, October 21.

  • Magnusson, M. K., Arvola, A., Hursti, U. K. K., Aberg, L., &Sojden;, P. O. (2001). Attitudes towards organic foods among Swedish consumers. British Food Journal, 103(3), 209-227.

  • Nunnally, J.C. (1978). Psychometric Theory, 2nd ed, McGraw-Hill, New York, NY, p. 245.

  • Pavlou, PA. (2002). What drives electronic commerce? A theory of planned behaviour perspective. Academy of Management Proceedings, A1-A6.

  • Padel, S., & Foster, C. (2005). Exploring the gap between attitudes and behaviour understanding why consumers buy or do not buy organic food. British Food Journal, 107(S), 606-25

  • Paul, J., & Rana, J. (2012). Consumer behaviour and purchase intention for organic food. Journal of Consumer Marketing, 29(6), 42-422

  • Schifferstein, H.N.J., & Oude Ophuis, P.A.M. (1998). Health-related determinants of organic foods consumption in The Netherlands. Food Quality and Preference, 9(3), 119-33.

  • Sirieix, L., Kledal, P. R, & Sulitang, T (2011). Organic food consumers' trade-offs between local or imported, conventional or organic products: a qualitative study in Shanghai. International Journal of Consumer Studies, 35(6), 670-678.

  • http://www.apeda.gov.in/apedawebsite/organic/Organic_Products.htm

  • http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentidonly=true&contentid=orga nic-agriculture.html.


Abstract Views: 614

PDF Views: 1




  • The Impact of Environmental Concerns, Health Concerns and Knowledge of Organic Food on Intention to Buy Organic Food

Abstract Views: 614  |  PDF Views: 1

Authors

Ahsan Sadiq
Department of Management Studies, Pondicherry University, Puducherry, India
B. Rajeswari
Department of Management Studies, Pondicherry University, Puducherry, India

Abstract


Purpose: Prominence on organic foods is growing day by day as the awareness for health and environment is snowballing. Organic foods are more common in western countries but it is still in nascent stage in India. This paper attempts to find significant relationship of the predictors (knowledge about organic food, health concern and environmental concerns) on intentions to buy organic food. Structured questionnaire was administered to get responses using mall intercept survey method. A total of 204 responses came. Out of three independent variables under study namely knowledge, health concerns and environmental concerns, only two were found to affect the intention. The value of regression coefficients for environmental concern was lowest (b = 0.075, p>0.05) which means it is not having an impact on intentions directly. Health concern was found to have highest impact on intention b= .614, p<.05). The study is confined to Pondicherry area only but provides important information about intentions towards organic food. The study would be helpful for mall owners, Retail outlets, super markets and restaurants in identifying the significant predictors of intention to buy organic food of consumers. This paper revisits the applicability of predictors of intention to buy organic food in the proposed model in Indian context.

Keywords


Organic Foods, Consumption Pattem, Health Concerns.

References