Impacts of biodiversity-positive intercropping systems on food quality, safety and the consumer acceptance: A case study of intercropped wheat
Climate change and biodiversity loss are challenging the food-production system and urging a transition towards a sustainable food system. Various strategies are being proposed, including the adoption of biodiversity-positive cropping systems such as intercropping. Most existing studies explore the...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Journal of Agriculture and Food Research |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666154325002522 |
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| author | Cheng Liu Rosa Safitri Sander van Leeuwen Bengu Ozturk Domantas Girzadas Eva-Tsvetalina Christoff Caspar Krampe |
| author_facet | Cheng Liu Rosa Safitri Sander van Leeuwen Bengu Ozturk Domantas Girzadas Eva-Tsvetalina Christoff Caspar Krampe |
| author_sort | Cheng Liu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Climate change and biodiversity loss are challenging the food-production system and urging a transition towards a sustainable food system. Various strategies are being proposed, including the adoption of biodiversity-positive cropping systems such as intercropping. Most existing studies explore the benefits of intercropping for yield and the environment, while ignoring further implications at the post-harvest stage. The current study aims to evaluate the impacts of intercropping on food safety, food quality and the associated consumer acceptance through a theoretical transition from wheat monoculture to intercropping wheat with a selection of companion crops. In the absence of quantitative monitoring data, qualitative assessments via literature review and expert interviews identified key safety hazards (e.g., mycotoxins, plant toxins, heavy metals, pesticide residues) and quality parameters (e.g., protein and gluten content for baking). Consumer preferences, analysed through a conjoint analysis, showed a preference for naturally produced products, with low pesticide use, but also display different consumer preferences as resembled by four consumer segments. A knowledge-based dashboard was developed to integrate all the findings into a decision-support system. For policymakers, producers and supply-chain actors, the study underscores the need to align agronomic practices with safety standards, invest in consumer education, and foster collaborations to ensure sustainable, high-quality food production. Successfully navigating this transition requires balancing climate and biodiversity goals with the delivery of safe, nutritious, and consumer-preferred products. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-18f3a43f3cc648e3874b11b2ba38af7a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2666-1543 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Agriculture and Food Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-18f3a43f3cc648e3874b11b2ba38af7a2025-08-20T03:25:08ZengElsevierJournal of Agriculture and Food Research2666-15432025-06-012110188110.1016/j.jafr.2025.101881Impacts of biodiversity-positive intercropping systems on food quality, safety and the consumer acceptance: A case study of intercropped wheatCheng Liu0Rosa Safitri1Sander van Leeuwen2Bengu Ozturk3Domantas Girzadas4Eva-Tsvetalina Christoff5Caspar Krampe6Wageningen Food Safety Research, Akkermaalsbos 2, 6708 WB, Wageningen, the Netherlands; Corresponding author.Wageningen Food Safety Research, Akkermaalsbos 2, 6708 WB, Wageningen, the NetherlandsWageningen Food and Biobased Research, Bornse Weilanden 9, 6708 WG, Wageningen, the NetherlandsWageningen Food and Biobased Research, Bornse Weilanden 9, 6708 WG, Wageningen, the NetherlandsWageningen Food Safety Research, Akkermaalsbos 2, 6708 WB, Wageningen, the NetherlandsWageningen Food Safety Research, Akkermaalsbos 2, 6708 WB, Wageningen, the NetherlandsMarketing and Consumer Behaviour Group, Wageningen University, Building No. 201 (Leeuwenborch), Hollandseweg 1, 6706 KN, Wageningen, the NetherlandsClimate change and biodiversity loss are challenging the food-production system and urging a transition towards a sustainable food system. Various strategies are being proposed, including the adoption of biodiversity-positive cropping systems such as intercropping. Most existing studies explore the benefits of intercropping for yield and the environment, while ignoring further implications at the post-harvest stage. The current study aims to evaluate the impacts of intercropping on food safety, food quality and the associated consumer acceptance through a theoretical transition from wheat monoculture to intercropping wheat with a selection of companion crops. In the absence of quantitative monitoring data, qualitative assessments via literature review and expert interviews identified key safety hazards (e.g., mycotoxins, plant toxins, heavy metals, pesticide residues) and quality parameters (e.g., protein and gluten content for baking). Consumer preferences, analysed through a conjoint analysis, showed a preference for naturally produced products, with low pesticide use, but also display different consumer preferences as resembled by four consumer segments. A knowledge-based dashboard was developed to integrate all the findings into a decision-support system. For policymakers, producers and supply-chain actors, the study underscores the need to align agronomic practices with safety standards, invest in consumer education, and foster collaborations to ensure sustainable, high-quality food production. Successfully navigating this transition requires balancing climate and biodiversity goals with the delivery of safe, nutritious, and consumer-preferred products.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666154325002522Strip croppingMixed croppingAllergenGluten contentPost-harvestConsumer preferences |
| spellingShingle | Cheng Liu Rosa Safitri Sander van Leeuwen Bengu Ozturk Domantas Girzadas Eva-Tsvetalina Christoff Caspar Krampe Impacts of biodiversity-positive intercropping systems on food quality, safety and the consumer acceptance: A case study of intercropped wheat Journal of Agriculture and Food Research Strip cropping Mixed cropping Allergen Gluten content Post-harvest Consumer preferences |
| title | Impacts of biodiversity-positive intercropping systems on food quality, safety and the consumer acceptance: A case study of intercropped wheat |
| title_full | Impacts of biodiversity-positive intercropping systems on food quality, safety and the consumer acceptance: A case study of intercropped wheat |
| title_fullStr | Impacts of biodiversity-positive intercropping systems on food quality, safety and the consumer acceptance: A case study of intercropped wheat |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impacts of biodiversity-positive intercropping systems on food quality, safety and the consumer acceptance: A case study of intercropped wheat |
| title_short | Impacts of biodiversity-positive intercropping systems on food quality, safety and the consumer acceptance: A case study of intercropped wheat |
| title_sort | impacts of biodiversity positive intercropping systems on food quality safety and the consumer acceptance a case study of intercropped wheat |
| topic | Strip cropping Mixed cropping Allergen Gluten content Post-harvest Consumer preferences |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666154325002522 |
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