Consumer Preferences Regarding Multifunctional Agriculture

Abstract

Multifunctionality is one of the key issues and concepts in European agriculture and in the common agricultural policy. Its importance is further emphasized in the context of the WTO negotiations. Stronger emphasis on multifunctionality will also have significant impacts on the food and agribusiness sector. Yet, so far consumers' views on multifunctionality have mostly been neglected in both policy planning and research. This paper presents one of the first major surveys on consumers' attitudes towards and willingness to pay for multifunctional agriculture. The study is based on a modern computer aided interviewing system and the contingent valuation method was employed to find out the WTP.