Geir Wæhler Gustavsen

Seniorforsker

(+47) 922 64 053
geir.gustavsen@nibio.no

Sted
Ås - Bygg O43

Besøksadresse
Oluf Thesens vei 43, 1433 Ås (Varelevering: Elizabeth Stephansens vei 23)

Sammendrag

Apples are a healthy and environmentally friendly snack, but the consumption of apples in many countries, including Norway, has decreased in the last fifteen years. This trend has a potential negative impact on public health and the environment. In this paper, we use a consumer survey and a random effect ordered logistic regression model to find out what is most important for people when they buy apples. Ten different values are considered and ranked according to individual’s importance. We find that taste and safety are the most important values for the average individual’s choice of apples, while the appearance and type of apple rank third. The least important values are wrapping size and regional origin. Everyday apple eaters are more concerned about pesticide use and less concerned about price than the average consumers. Furthermore, compared to the average consumer, those with low levels of trust in apple producers and authorities care more about pesticides and environmentally friendly production methods, while consumers with a high level of trust care less about these aspects. Our results indicate that to increase the consumption of Norwegian apples, it is important to maintain or improve their reputation as being tasty and safe to eat.

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Divisjon for matproduksjon og samfunn

FoodsecURe: Food security through better sanitation: the case of urine recycling


Human urine contains essential plant nutrients. Hence, urine can serve as a “free” and locally available fertiliser. Successful, low-cost urine-diverting toilets (UDTs) that separately collect urine have been developed in Scandinavia and Europe and manufactured at large scale in Africa. A solution for stabilising urine into a solid fertiliser has also been developed. 

But why can't we recycle urine at scale?

In Sweden UDTs are used in some cottages, and the Swedish University of Agricultural Science (SLU) has developed a method to stabilise and dry urine into a fertiliser product, urine-based fertiliser (UBF). FoodSecure aims to implement this technology at a medium scale in Ethiopia.

Active Updated: 26.01.2024
End: juni 2027
Start: juli 2023
ebba kvadrat

Divisjon for matproduksjon og samfunn

JordbærSmak: En optimalisert moderne produksjonsteknologi for mer smakfulle norske jordbær


Strawberry is an important berry specie with long traditions in Norway. Norwegian berries have a high status amongconsumers. The climate in Norway is suited to produce strawberries with excellent taste, but the season is short andthe consumers' desire for strawberries around the year has led to a sharp increase in imports in recent years. IfNorwegian strawberries are to compete with imported berries during the growing season and retain their high status,it is important to focus on quality. The opening of import of strawberry plants, have given new possibilities forproduction. The high yield potential of imported strawberry plants combined with growing in substrate in highplastic tunnels meets many of the challenges for strawberry production in Norway. In extension of this, production ofstrawberries in greenhouses and in closed systems have also become relevant. In parallel with new productionsystems and increased import, the taste-quality of Norwegian berries has been challenged. A question that has beenraised is: "Why is there so little difference in the taste of Norwegian and imported strawberries?". However,strawberry taste is complex and specific, and preferences change with several factors, such as age and gender.Strawberry flavor is a complex interaction between sugar, acid, and aroma substances. Since the ripening processstops at harvest, the content of these cannot be changed after picking. Cultivar, cultivation practices, temperatureand light are factors that alone and in combination can affect the quality of taste. The role of the cultivation factorsin modern production systems must be understood in order to improve the consumer's taste experience andoptimize the quality of the final product. TastyStrawberry's main goal is therefore to develop new knowledge thatwill create a basis for optimizing the taste of strawberries produced in modern production systems during anextended growing season in Norway.

Active Updated: 06.09.2024
End: des 2026
Start: jan 2023