A perceptive-emotional model of behavioural intention to consume food grown with nutrients recovered from wastewater

Abstract

Global food production is threatened by a scarcity of phosphorus, an essential component in most fertilisers. Recovering phosphorus from wastewater may be a potential solution. However, there may be social resistance to consuming food grown with these fertilisers. In this study, we propose a predictive perceptive-emotional model (PEM) that identifies the psychological factors that influence favourable behavioural intention towards the consumption of this kind of food. A total of 1,003 participants in Spain (n = 387), Sweden (n = 378) and the Netherlands (n = 238) answered an online survey. The results show that positive emotions are the main predictor of behavioural intention. Generating these emotions depends on trust in scientists, a low health risks perception and a high benefit perception. Managing these factors is key for governments and international institutions so that they are aware of how public acceptance is generated and can launch programmes to encourage the consumption of such food products.