The Four Research Themes

Sustainable Food Production

60% of young people believe that the agriculture industry should focus on reducing carbon

87% of young people believe that soil is an essential factor in sustainable agriculture

63% of young people believe that local produce is more sustainable

36% of young people believe organic meat production is more sustainable than vegetarian and vegan options

75% of young people would like to learn more about protecting soil

When I purchase food I think about…

1. Price (68%)

Male:

Female:

What other information should food labels give (besides current nutritional information):

1. Environmental sustainability (66%)

2. Carbon cost (41%)

3. Food miles (37%)

(NB: Environmental sustainability 58% Male, 74% Female)

If I had the above information, would I make a food choice based on the environmental impact of that food?

84% - Yes

NB: Comments focused on: wider environmental sustainability of food and impact on nature/biodiversity, followed by food miles as something that should appear on labels and then the carbon footprint of a product.

Though young people agreed on this point, they also commented that they would not wish to see a drastic increase in the cost of food should food be labelled as more sustainable – a fear that sustainable food is not affordable

Those that responded ‘no’ primarily commented that they felt brands / supermarkets should already be making those decisions and that it should not be down to the consumer to choose – i.e. why would there be food that is not sustainable on offer?

91% of young people believe our individual food choices are important in some way in the fight against climate change.

89% of young people believe society should care where its food comes from.

89% believe that UK food producers are likely / very likely to care for the environment more than their counterparts from across the world (7% think less likely).

NB: Interesting to note that there is no great divide between rural/urban areas of the UK in their responses nor a difference in gender, ethnicity or age when compared to the average; 92% in the West Midlands and South East England for example compared with 86% London / 87% East of England.