title: Methods matter: a meta-regression on the determinants of willingness-to-pay studies on biofortified foods.
abstract: Following the growing evidence on biofortification as a cost-effective micronutrient strategy, various researchers have elicited consumers' willingness to pay (WTP) for biofortified crops in an effort to justify and determine their adoption. This review presents a meta-analysis of WTP studies on biofortified foods, either developed through conventional breeding or using genetic modification technology. On the basis of 122 estimates from 23 studies (9507 respondents), consumers are generally willing to pay 21.3% more for biofortified crops. Because WTP estimates are often determined through different valuation methods and procedures, a meta-regression was carried out to examine the role of potential determinants. Aside from contextual factors, such as type of food crop, target nutrient, and region (but not breeding technique), various methodological factors significantly influence premiums, including the type of respondent, nature of the study, study environment, participation fee, and provided information. The findings allow researchers to better anticipate potential methodological biases when examining WTP for (biofortified) foods, while it gives policy makers a broad understanding of the potential demand for different biofortified crops in various settings.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Biosciences Engineering, Department of Agricultural Economics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: De Steur
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Biosciences Engineering, Department of Agricultural Economics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.|School of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Mountains of the Moon University, Fort Portal, Uganda.
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wesana
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Functional Plant Biology, Department of Physiology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Blancquaert
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Functional Plant Biology, Department of Physiology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Van Der Straeten
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Biosciences Engineering, Department of Agricultural Economics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Gellynck
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D001294:Attitude to Health; D000072759:Biofortification / Q000191:economics*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D018556:Crops, Agricultural / Q000191:economics*; D005527:Food, Fortified / Q000191:economics*; D005821:Genetic Techniques; D006801:Humans; D018977:Micronutrients
chemical_list: D018977:Micronutrients
keywords: biofortification; consumer; economic valuation; meta-analysis; willingness to pay