곤충식품 소비자 유형화에 관한 연구

Abstract

A worldwide study of insect food is being conducted as a preparation for the food crisis. Korea is also pushing ahead with a national plan to foster the insect industry. In particular, it is difficult to expand the market due to the disgust and rejection of consumers, although it allows edible insects as a source of food and seeks to produce and sell various insect foods. In this study, consumers were identified specifically, including their perception of insect food, experience, potential development, and acceptance of various insect food types from a consumer-centered perspective. Then, they clarified the characteristics of the information demand for each type of food and made policy and practical suggestions that insect food could be activated from the consumer's perspective. There are four types of insect food consumers. First, the nutrition recognition group accounted for the largest portion of the total at 38.8%. They value highly the potential for development of insect food, but are less willing to eat insect food and more demanding information and safety policies. Second, future receptor groups were willing to accept, but did not show active interest and accounted for 23.0% of the total. Third, the actively accepting group had relatively high experience eating insect food and accounted for 20 percent of the population that was favorable to insect food. Fourth, the non-acceptance group had low potential for development assessment and acceptance at 18.2% of the total, and even if insect food was purchased, it needed importance of the brand, date of manufacture, and reliable elements such as the manufacturer. Multinominal logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the factors that directly affect each type. The higher the future potential of insect food and the need for quality safety standards based on the non-acceptance group, the more likely it was to belong to the nutritional value recognition group. The more important the environmental contribution aspects and the quality of insect food, the more likely it was to belong to a future receptor group. And if they had experience with insect food, they were more likely to be part of an active receptor group. There was a common demand for home shopping distribution channels in all types. Finally, from a consumer's perspective, policies were needed to supplement safety and specific information on insect food, and the importance of experiencing insect food was identified. In addition, education and promotion are required from a long-term perspective on the importance and need of insect food, and research on consumer acceptance of specific product types needs to be strengthened.