A Multidisciplinary View on Animal Welfare and Alternative Protein: Convergences and Perspectives from Professionals in Agricultural, Food, and Veterinary Sciences
This study investigated the perceptions of animal welfare and the consumption of alternative protein sources among future professionals in agronomy, food science, and veterinary medicine. A sample of 769 participants from three faculties [ESALQ (“Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture), FZEA (Schoo...
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MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Foods |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/12/2140 |
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| author | Iliani Patinho Robson Mateus Freitas Silveira Erick Saldaña Alessandra Arno Sérgio Luís de Castro Júnior Iran José Oliveira da Silva |
| author_facet | Iliani Patinho Robson Mateus Freitas Silveira Erick Saldaña Alessandra Arno Sérgio Luís de Castro Júnior Iran José Oliveira da Silva |
| author_sort | Iliani Patinho |
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| description | This study investigated the perceptions of animal welfare and the consumption of alternative protein sources among future professionals in agronomy, food science, and veterinary medicine. A sample of 769 participants from three faculties [ESALQ (“Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture), FZEA (School of Animal Science and Food Engineering), and FMVZ (School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science)] of the University of São Paulo was used. These faculties have different teaching focuses: agronomy, food and animal production, and veterinary, respectively. A relationship between the perception of animal welfare and alternative sources of protein based on the participants’ educational background was verified, specifically: (i) participants from the FZEA (food science) and FMVZ (veterinary) units would be interested in consuming farmed meat and expressed interest in trying it; (ii) students from the ESALQ (agronomy) have a low level of knowledge about animal welfare and are not very interested in knowing how animals are reared, and few participants attribute the presence of the health inspection seal as influencing their purchasing intention; (iii) participants, regardless of their academic background, did not express an intention to reduce their red meat consumption; (iv) the ESALQ was the campus which showed the most skepticism about animal sentience; (v) most participants from the FMVZ and FZEA reported being willing to pay 4–5% more for products that guarantee animal welfare. The findings suggest that the academic context influences individuals’ perceptions and food choices, highlighting the need for educational strategies that foster a greater awareness of animal welfare, encourage the adoption of more sustainable practices, and promote the acceptance of alternative protein sources within the agri-food sector. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ff7067bbb7f74e938b0558ecbdfb5b97 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2304-8158 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Foods |
| spelling | doaj-art-ff7067bbb7f74e938b0558ecbdfb5b972025-08-20T03:24:40ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582025-06-011412214010.3390/foods14122140A Multidisciplinary View on Animal Welfare and Alternative Protein: Convergences and Perspectives from Professionals in Agricultural, Food, and Veterinary SciencesIliani Patinho0Robson Mateus Freitas Silveira1Erick Saldaña2Alessandra Arno3Sérgio Luís de Castro Júnior4Iran José Oliveira da Silva5Department of Food Science and Technology, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of Sao Paulo, Piracicaba 13418-900, SP, BrazilEnrivonment Livestock Research Center (Núcleo de Pesquisa em Ambiência—NUPEA), Department of Biosystems Engeneering, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo (ESALQ/USP), Av. Pádua Dias, 11, Piracicaba 13418-900, SP, BrazilSensory Analysis and Consumer Study Group, Escuela Profesional de Ingeniería Agroindustrial, Universidad Nacional de Moquegua, Prolongaci’ on Calle Ancash s/n, Moquegua 18001, PeruEnrivonment Livestock Research Center (Núcleo de Pesquisa em Ambiência—NUPEA), Department of Biosystems Engeneering, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo (ESALQ/USP), Av. Pádua Dias, 11, Piracicaba 13418-900, SP, BrazilEnrivonment Livestock Research Center (Núcleo de Pesquisa em Ambiência—NUPEA), Department of Biosystems Engeneering, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo (ESALQ/USP), Av. Pádua Dias, 11, Piracicaba 13418-900, SP, BrazilEnrivonment Livestock Research Center (Núcleo de Pesquisa em Ambiência—NUPEA), Department of Biosystems Engeneering, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo (ESALQ/USP), Av. Pádua Dias, 11, Piracicaba 13418-900, SP, BrazilThis study investigated the perceptions of animal welfare and the consumption of alternative protein sources among future professionals in agronomy, food science, and veterinary medicine. A sample of 769 participants from three faculties [ESALQ (“Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture), FZEA (School of Animal Science and Food Engineering), and FMVZ (School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science)] of the University of São Paulo was used. These faculties have different teaching focuses: agronomy, food and animal production, and veterinary, respectively. A relationship between the perception of animal welfare and alternative sources of protein based on the participants’ educational background was verified, specifically: (i) participants from the FZEA (food science) and FMVZ (veterinary) units would be interested in consuming farmed meat and expressed interest in trying it; (ii) students from the ESALQ (agronomy) have a low level of knowledge about animal welfare and are not very interested in knowing how animals are reared, and few participants attribute the presence of the health inspection seal as influencing their purchasing intention; (iii) participants, regardless of their academic background, did not express an intention to reduce their red meat consumption; (iv) the ESALQ was the campus which showed the most skepticism about animal sentience; (v) most participants from the FMVZ and FZEA reported being willing to pay 4–5% more for products that guarantee animal welfare. The findings suggest that the academic context influences individuals’ perceptions and food choices, highlighting the need for educational strategies that foster a greater awareness of animal welfare, encourage the adoption of more sustainable practices, and promote the acceptance of alternative protein sources within the agri-food sector.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/12/2140consumer behavioranimal-based productscell-based meatedible insects |
| spellingShingle | Iliani Patinho Robson Mateus Freitas Silveira Erick Saldaña Alessandra Arno Sérgio Luís de Castro Júnior Iran José Oliveira da Silva A Multidisciplinary View on Animal Welfare and Alternative Protein: Convergences and Perspectives from Professionals in Agricultural, Food, and Veterinary Sciences Foods consumer behavior animal-based products cell-based meat edible insects |
| title | A Multidisciplinary View on Animal Welfare and Alternative Protein: Convergences and Perspectives from Professionals in Agricultural, Food, and Veterinary Sciences |
| title_full | A Multidisciplinary View on Animal Welfare and Alternative Protein: Convergences and Perspectives from Professionals in Agricultural, Food, and Veterinary Sciences |
| title_fullStr | A Multidisciplinary View on Animal Welfare and Alternative Protein: Convergences and Perspectives from Professionals in Agricultural, Food, and Veterinary Sciences |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Multidisciplinary View on Animal Welfare and Alternative Protein: Convergences and Perspectives from Professionals in Agricultural, Food, and Veterinary Sciences |
| title_short | A Multidisciplinary View on Animal Welfare and Alternative Protein: Convergences and Perspectives from Professionals in Agricultural, Food, and Veterinary Sciences |
| title_sort | multidisciplinary view on animal welfare and alternative protein convergences and perspectives from professionals in agricultural food and veterinary sciences |
| topic | consumer behavior animal-based products cell-based meat edible insects |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/12/2140 |
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