A quarter (26%) say they will now always choose less-polluting food types, and so permanently reduce their meat and dairy consumption.

08 June 2021: New research has shown Americans' eating habits have become more influenced by ethics and sustainability over the past year: nearly three-quarters (71%) say they have paid more attention than ever to food provenance such as food labels and country of origin since the start of the pandemic.

Two-thirds (68%) suggest they are now eating more organic food and a similar number (69%) say they're choosing more ethically-farmed meat and fish, such as free-range poultry and MSC-certified fish. In addition, 65% are choosing more alt-protein in their diet, such as soya bean, plant-based meat and pea protein.

A quarter (26%) say they will now always choose less-polluting food types, and so permanently reduce their meat and dairy consumption.

The survey of more than 1,000 US adults was commissioned by Proagrica, a global provider of technology solutions for the agriculture and animal health industries.

It also revealed what Americans think the agricultural sector needs to prioritize in order to meet its environmental responsibilities: 37% think decreasing the use of pesticides is the number one consideration, while 28% see the main focus as reducing water use through smart irrigation, rainwater recycling and recovery and other methods.

Graeme McCracken, managing director at Proagrica, says: "Diets were already changing before the pandemic, but the past 12 months have seen a huge shift in Americans' eating habits. There is more focus than ever before on where food comes from and how it was made and consumers won't stand for food that lacks ethical and sustainable credentials.

"Businesses in the food and agriculture industries need to actively show how they are working together to improve their operational processes. They need to be able to demonstrate that every single grain grown, fish caught and steak produced meets the exacting standards of an increasingly well-informed public. Thankfully, and reinforced in every industry conference, product launch and data insight, this focus on stewardship and standards is core to everything our industry is delivering."

About Proagrica
Proagrica, part of RELX Group, is a global provider of independent connectivity and data-driven support solutions for the agriculture and animal health industries.

It delivers actionable intelligence to drive business growth across the value chain. Proagrica's superior products and services connect and empower industry participants to address their key needs around trading, productivity and compliance.

Proagrica's solutions are built around the key competences of data connectivity and data analytics delivering seamless supply chain management, customer insight and engagement, essential for businesses looking to
improve their value offering and expand in the modern marketplace.
Proagrica.com

About RELX
RELX is a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. The Group serves customers in more than 180 countries and has offices in about 40 countries. It employs over 33,000 people, of whom almost half are in North America. The shares of RELX PLC, the parent company, are traded on the London, Amsterdam and New York Stock Exchanges using the following ticker symbols: London: REL; Amsterdam: REN; New York: RELX. The market capitalization is approximately £34.6bn, €39.5bn, $47.9bn.
RELX.com