Future of Food: Journal on Food

Finding alternatives: Canadian attitudes towards novel foods in support of sustainable agriculture

Janet Music
Dalhousie University

Global agriculture and farming practices account for roughly a quarter of total atmospheric emissions. Protein agricultural is especially prone to green-house gas emissions. There is a need to find alternatives, both in the form of protein and sustainable practices in providing alternative protein sources. However, sustainable agricultural practices must consider consumer behaviour and attitude towards switching protein sources. In this study, we carried out a survey of 993 Canadians in order to better understand the likelihood of adoption of alternative proteins, cultured meat, insects and jellyfish; attitudes towards sustainable agriculture were also explored. Results show that novel foods that imitate traditional protein sources have a higher acceptance rate than those that are not part of the cultural food landscape. There is no evidence that consumers would switch from traditional protein sources when given more protein source options, calling into question the environmental efficacy of novel food offering. This suggests that investment in alternative proteins as sustainable agriculture requires consumer engagement in order to see widespread success.

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Myanmar High School Students’ Perceptions of College and International Readiness in Western Society

Mark Speckien
Louisiana Tech University
Mark Speckien
Louisiana Tech University
International students are more likely to experience mental health issues and increased stress. Mental health is often surrounded by negative societal stigmas that act as barriers to seeking support and tend to lead to greater mental health concerns. International students tend to seek socioemotional support from other international student peers rather than seeking out counseling services. However, this study shows that LGBTQIA+ international students were less likely to seek socioemotional support from other international student peers due to fear of their sexual orientation being discovered and their families finding out about their identity. This study examines how LGBTQIA+ international students talk about their experiences on and off campus in relations to their socioemotional well-being. Specifically, this study sought to better understand the complexities of LGBTQIA+ students’ identities, and the challenges they faced in terms of their socioemotional well-being. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.
Keywords : international students, socioemotional well-being, mental health, identity development, intersectionality, LGBTQIA