Mapping determinants of alternative protein food intake across 13 European countries: food system stakeholders’ perspectives
Mapping determinants of alternative protein food intake across 13 European countries: food system stakeholders’ perspectives
StatusVoR
Alternative title
Authors
Zaleśkiewicz, Hanna
Kuliś-Stefańczyk, Ewa
Szczuka, Zofia
Banik, Anna
Alcat, Gabriela
Ávila, Concha
Cardoso, Isabel
Coşkun, Feyza Başak
Kornafel, Anna
Mai, Lisa
Monograph
Monograph (alternative title)
Date
2026-02-19
Publisher
Journal title
International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity
Issue
1
Volume
23
Pages
Pages
1-16
ISSN
1479-5868
ISSN of series
Access date
2026-02-19
Abstract PL
Abstract EN
Background
Using the system mapping approach, this study aimed to map the system of potential determinants of including alternative protein food (APF) into the daily diet across 13 European countries. We also aimed to identify key leverage points in the systems, which are determinants that are most interconnected with other determinants in the system. Similarities in leverage points and feedback loops found across the system maps were investigated.
Methods
Food system stakeholders (N = 166; including food producers, food processors, policy makers, nutritionists, consumers, etc.) participated in 17 system mapping workshops, conducted in Austria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, and Poland. Group model building methods were applied to develop 17 maps. Centrality indices were calculated, feedback loops were identified, and similarities between countries were explored.
Results
Key leverage points that were common across 6–8 maps included: consumer education and knowledge about APF, social norms, encouragement, advertising and influencers’ impact. Other common identified leverage points (present in 3–4 maps) were: health-related perceptions, curiosity/fear of novelty, national food culture, perceptions of ultra-processing, sustainability issues, and animal welfare issues. Overall, stakeholders emphasized consumers as central actors in the food system. Feedback loops identified in the study, revealed some common within-country pathways. For example, half of the feedback loops shown in the Italian maps included a potentially reinforcing upward spiral. Stakeholders perceived that higher APF product safety may facilitate advertising APF (e.g., as healthy), which in turn could increase consumers’ curiosity and/or beliefs that APF is healthy and sustainable. This was perceived as facilitating local development and job creation, food prices reduction, and further developments in food safety.
Conclusions
The findings offer new insights into the complexities of European food systems and may contribute to the broader uptake of APF. Identifying leverage points and feedback loops may inspire food system stakeholders to design novel interventions. For example, these interventions could involve influencers to familiarize consumers with APF, promote knowledge about healthiness and safety of APF, as well as link APF consumption with positive emotions and social approval.
Abstract other
Keywords PL
Keywords EN
Alternative protein food
Stakeholder
System mapping
Stakeholder
System mapping
Keywords other
Sustainable Development Goals
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Place of exhibition (institution)
Exhibition curator
Type
License type
Funder
Time range from
Time range to
Contact person name
Related publication
Related publication
Grant/project name
"From niche to mainstream: alternative proteins for everybody and everywhere (LIKE-A-PRO)”
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