Mapping determinants of alternative protein food intake across 13 European countries: food system stakeholders’ perspectives

TL;DR

This study explores factors influencing the adoption of alternative protein foods in 13 European countries, identifying key leverage points and feedback loops based on stakeholder perspectives.

Contribution

The study introduces a system mapping approach to identify interconnected determinants and leverage points for promoting alternative protein food consumption across multiple European countries.

Findings

Consumer education and social norms emerged as key leverage points across 6–8 country maps.

Feedback loops suggest that improved APF safety perceptions can reinforce positive consumer behaviors and economic benefits.

Stakeholders emphasized the central role of consumers in shaping food system dynamics.

Abstract

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.

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.

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.

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.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12966-026-01891-3.

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