Evaluating Animal-Based Foods and Plant-Based Alternatives Using Multi-Criteria and SWOT Analyses

Abstract

Global diets have transitioned in recent decades with animal and processed products increasing. Promoting a reversal in these trends towards plant-based diets could reduce the environmental impacts of food systems and reduce the prevalence of non-communicable diseases and malnutrition. In Spain, a reference point for the Mediterranean diet (predominantly plant-source based), plant-based alternatives to traditional animal-based products are receiving increased attention. However, limited focus has been given to the opinions of stakeholder groups on the potential of these novel products. We evaluate the opinions of stakeholders within the Spanish agri-food sector, using multicriteria and SWOT analyses, on traditional and novel food products. Stakeholders involved in the supply chain of food products (producers, processors, and distributors) were critical of novel plant-based foods, highlighting problems with their taste, processing technology, and high prices. These results contrast with the perspectives of policymakers, researchers, environmental NGOs, and consumers who see novel products more positively - healthier, more sustainable, and highly profitable. These results illustrate the more traditional mindset seen in Spanish production systems, contrasting with the rapidly shifting tastes and demands of consumers and the potential legislative orientation of policymakers. This study calls for improved understanding and collaboration between stakeholders to better manage complex choices that affect the future of food systems during their needed transformation.

Keywords: diet’s sustainability; high protein foods; innovation; meat; milk; perceptions; stakeholders; vegetarian substitutes.

Figure A1

Overall ranking of food products by stakeholder group: (a) Producers; (b) Processors; (c) Distributors; (d) Consumers; (e) Policy-makers; (f) Researchers; and, (g) NGOs e. Solid orange bars show rank means (the left and right ends indicate the means of the low and high ranks assigned by each stakeholder). Thin blue lines refer to rank extremes (the left and right ends indicate the lowest and highest ranks assigned by any stakeholder).

Figure A2

Uncertainty by stakeholder group: (a) Producers; (b) Processors; (c) Distributors; (d) Consumers; (e) Policymakers; (f) Researchers; (g) NGOs. The orange cross-line represents the average degree of uncertainty. The blue line refers to extreme values (the left and right ends show the largest and lowest degrees of uncertainty).

Figure A3

Weights (%) assigned to each criterion by stakeholder group: (a) Producers; (b) Processors; (c) Distributors; (d) Consumers; (e) Policymakers; (f) Researchers; and (g) NGOs.

Figure 1

Steps of the multi-criteria mapping. Source: Adapted from Stirling [35] and Holdsworth [37].

Figure 2

Overall ranking of food products (all stakeholder’ views). Solid orange bars show rank means (the left and right ends indicate the means of the low and high ranks assigned by each stakeholder). Thin blue lines refer to rank extrema (the left and right ends indicate the lowest and highest ranks assigned by any stakeholder).

Figure 3

Uncertainty (all stakeholder’ views). The orange cross-line represents the average degree of uncertainty. The blue line refers to extreme values (the left and right ends show the largest and lowest degrees of uncertainty).

Figure 4

Weights assigned to each criterion (economic, environmental, features for consumers, policy, social, technological) (%) (all stakeholders’ views). The orange cross-line shows the mean value. The blue horizontal line shows the range between lowest and highest weights attached to each criterion.

Figure 5

Weights assigned to each sub-criterion (% of the total weight of the criteria) (all stakeholder’ views).

Figure 6

Overall performance of food products under each criterion (all stakeholder’ views). Average weight of each criterion (%).

Figure 7

Overall performance of food products grouped into animal-based and plant-based products, under each sub-criterion (all stakeholder’ views). Average weight of each sub-criterion (%).

Figure 8

Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats (SWOT) analysis of innovative protein-rich plant-based products. Stakeholder groups: Prod. (producers), Pc. (processors), Dis. (distributors), Con. (consumers), P.M. (policy-makers), Res. (researchers), NGO (non-governmental organization).