Abstract
Purpose
Food and farming are of strategic importance for the future of biodiversity. Building on work by Townsend (2009) on general sustainability in zoos, this study aimed to assess the commitment to sustainable food procurement (SFP) among BIAZA members, comparing front-of-house (human) with back-of-house (animal) operations. It examined food purchasing practices and priorities, as well as the drivers of and barriers to these activities.
Methodology
A quantitative, cross-sectional approach was adopted, involving the use of a web-based
questionnaire to gather relevant information from 41 BIAZA members. The questions
in the survey were ordered to effectively meet the research objectives, with one section
of the survey addressing human food and another section animal food.
Findings
Economic sustainability was found to be the highest scoring section of SFP, followed by
environmental and then social. The overall levels of SFP were found to be equal for
human and animal food operations. Nevertheless, numerous disparities between these
two supply chains were found to exist for individual issues. In most cases, food
procurement practices did not match food procurement priorities, with the exception of
socially sustainable food procurement where there was an exact correlation.
Statistically, levels of SFP were found to be significantly higher in charity zoos, zoos
with accredited sustainability standards, and zoos whose human food operations were
not contracted to external operators.
Cost savings were identified as the most important driver of SFP, followed by adequate
financial support and improved product quality. In terms of barriers, the three highest
ranked issues were increased costs, other issues taking priority, and a lack of alternative
suppliers.
Practical implications
Seven recommendations were made to improve the level of SFP within BIAZA.
Internally, these included implementing policies and audits, ensuring consistency across
all areas of zoo operations, and utilising food certification schemes.
Externally, the recommendations involved engagement with food suppliers, partnerships for SFP, as well as higher standards for contracted food operators. Guidelines for self-assessment were also included to allow individual zoos to compare their SFP scores with the mean figures from the study.
Originality/value
The originality of this study lies in its comparison of two parallel but separate supply chains within zoos and aquariums. Also of relevance is the link between organisational values and purchasing activities.
Keywords
sustainable food procurement, zoos, food supply chains, values/action gap
Food and farming are of strategic importance for the future of biodiversity. Building on work by Townsend (2009) on general sustainability in zoos, this study aimed to assess the commitment to sustainable food procurement (SFP) among BIAZA members, comparing front-of-house (human) with back-of-house (animal) operations. It examined food purchasing practices and priorities, as well as the drivers of and barriers to these activities.
Methodology
A quantitative, cross-sectional approach was adopted, involving the use of a web-based
questionnaire to gather relevant information from 41 BIAZA members. The questions
in the survey were ordered to effectively meet the research objectives, with one section
of the survey addressing human food and another section animal food.
Findings
Economic sustainability was found to be the highest scoring section of SFP, followed by
environmental and then social. The overall levels of SFP were found to be equal for
human and animal food operations. Nevertheless, numerous disparities between these
two supply chains were found to exist for individual issues. In most cases, food
procurement practices did not match food procurement priorities, with the exception of
socially sustainable food procurement where there was an exact correlation.
Statistically, levels of SFP were found to be significantly higher in charity zoos, zoos
with accredited sustainability standards, and zoos whose human food operations were
not contracted to external operators.
Cost savings were identified as the most important driver of SFP, followed by adequate
financial support and improved product quality. In terms of barriers, the three highest
ranked issues were increased costs, other issues taking priority, and a lack of alternative
suppliers.
Practical implications
Seven recommendations were made to improve the level of SFP within BIAZA.
Internally, these included implementing policies and audits, ensuring consistency across
all areas of zoo operations, and utilising food certification schemes.
Externally, the recommendations involved engagement with food suppliers, partnerships for SFP, as well as higher standards for contracted food operators. Guidelines for self-assessment were also included to allow individual zoos to compare their SFP scores with the mean figures from the study.
Originality/value
The originality of this study lies in its comparison of two parallel but separate supply chains within zoos and aquariums. Also of relevance is the link between organisational values and purchasing activities.
Keywords
sustainable food procurement, zoos, food supply chains, values/action gap
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publication status | Published - 17 Jul 2013 |
| Event | 15th Annual British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums Research Symposium 2013 - Canterbury, United Kingdom Duration: 17 Jul 2013 → 19 Jul 2013 |
Conference
| Conference | 15th Annual British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums Research Symposium 2013 |
|---|---|
| Abbreviated title | BIAZA 2013 |
| Country/Territory | United Kingdom |
| City | Canterbury |
| Period | 17/07/2013 → 19/07/2013 |